title: Self-organized patterning through the dynamic segregation of DNA and silica nanoparticles.
abstract: Exotic pattern formation as a result of drying of an aqueous solution containing DNA and silica nanoparticles is reported. The pattern due to segregation was found to critically depend on the relative ratio of nanoparticles and DNA, as revealed by polarization microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. The blurred radial pattern that is usually observed in the drying of a colloidal solution was shown to be vividly sharpened in the presence of DNA. Uniquely curved, crescent-shaped micrometer-scale domains are generated in regions that are rich in nanoparticles. The characteristic segregated patterns observed in the present study are interpreted in terms of a large aspect ratio between the persistence length (∼ 50 nm) and the diameter (∼ 2 nm) of double-stranded DNA, and the relatively small silica nanoparticles (radius: 5 nm).
authors.affiliation: 1] Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, Sekr. TC7, D-10623 Berlin, Germany [2] WPI-AIMR, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Rastko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Joksimovic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0394, Japan.
authors.forename: Shun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, Sekr. TC7, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riemer
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, Sekr. TC7, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gradzielski
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0394, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D004247:DNA