Circles of DNA-linked gold nanoparticle strands

DNA-connected strings of gold nanoparticles are arrangedto form very uniformly annular arrays having various diametersof a few micrometers by adjusting evaporation conditions as wellas the concentrations of gold nanoparticles andphosphorothioate-modified oligonucleotides. The circles areformed by the dry hole-opening mechanism rather than by theMarangoni effect. However, their sizes are very diverse andtheir circumferences are approaching to show single-particlethinness instead of close-packed particle cluster thicknessowing to DNA-linked gold nanoparticle strands.