title: DNA-directed assembly of asymmetric nanoclusters using Janus nanoparticles.
abstract: Asymmetric assembly of nanomaterials has attracted broad interests because of their unique anisotropic properties that are different from those based on the more widely reported symmetric assemblies. Despite the potential advantages, programmable fabrication of asymmetric structure in nanoscale remains a challenge. We report here a DNA-directed approach for the assembly of asymmetric nanoclusters using Janus nanoparticles as building blocks. DNA-functionalized spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNSs) can be selectively attached onto two different hemispheres of DNA-functionalized Janus nanoparticle (JNP) through DNA hybridization. Complementary and invasive DNA strands have been used to control the degree and reversibility of the assembly process through programmable base-pairing interactions, resulting in a series of modular and asymmetric nanostructures that allow systematic study of the size-dependent assembly process. We have also shown that the attachment of the AuNSs onto the gold surface of the Janus nanoparticle results in red shifting of the UV-vis and plasmon resonance spectra.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Zidong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhida
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ngo Yin
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Gang Logan
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D004247:DNA