Directed Self‐Assembly of DNA Tiles into Complex Nanocages |
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Authors: | Cheng Tian Xiang Li Zhiyu Liu Prof Wen Jiang Prof Guansong Wang Prof Chengde Mao |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 (USA);2. Markey Center for Structural Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 (USA);3. Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Xinqiao Hospital, Chongqing 400037 (China) |
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Abstract: | Tile‐based self‐assembly is a powerful method in DNA nanotechnology and has produced a wide range of well‐defined nanostructures. But the resulting structures are relatively simple. Increasing the structural complexity and the scope of the accessible structures is an outstanding challenge in molecular self‐assembly. A strategy to partially address this problem by introducing flexibility into assembling DNA tiles and employing directing agents to control the self‐assembly process is presented. To demonstrate this strategy, a range of DNA nanocages have been rationally designed and constructed. Many of them can not be assembled otherwise. All of the resulting structures have been thoroughly characterized by gel electrophoresis and cryogenic electron microscopy. This strategy greatly expands the scope of accessible DNA nanostructures and would facilitate technological applications such as nanoguest encapsulation, drug delivery, and nanoparticle organization. |
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Keywords: | cryogenic electron microscopy DNA structures nanocages nanotechnology self‐assembly |
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