DNA-Programmable Assembly of Nanoparticles into Precision Anisotropic Architectures

• Applicant: Dr. Chaojian Chen
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials ; Polymeric and Biogenic Materials and Derived Composites ; Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2020 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 453265186

• Final Report Year: 2024

Final Report Abstract

As a Walter Benjamin Fellow funded by the DFG, my research at Northwestern University focuses on DNA-mediated assembly of nanoparticles, both on surfaces and in solution. I have developed a cutting-edge nanopatterning technique that harnesses the dynamic bonds between plant polyphenols and metal ions to make macromolecular structures on various surfaces. This approach, leveraging tip-based lithography, has yielded a library of deposited metal‒phenolic nanopatterns. Significantly, post-treatment of the patterns under ammonia vapor triggers a transformation to form more stable, substratebound networks. This technology not only allows for precise manipulation of feature size, shape, and composition but also opens doors to a myriad of applications, including nanoparticle synthesis, biomolecule immobilization, and cell engineering. Post DNA-functionalization, these nanopatterns facilitate the dense, precise assembly of gold nanoparticles into uniform, single-layer, twodimensional arrays that may have interesting optical properties. This positions metal‒phenolic nanopatterns as a versatile platform for the programmable assembly of nanoobjects, catering to a wide audience in catalysis, sensing, and template-directed assembly. Building upon our advancements in surface-based self-assembly, my current research delves into the precise functionalization of nanostructures with DNA strands, laying the groundwork for DNA-guided assembly of anisotropic structures in solution. A key focus lies in creating an unprecedented anisotropic structure via DNA-mediated assembly of nanorings and nanorods. With successful DNA functionalization of metal nanorings and gold nanorods, showcasing remarkable self-assembly capabilities, we’re at the brink of designing complex nanoparticle configurations. This endeavor will not only pioneer new avenues in complex nanoparticle design but also introduce a novel category of artificial nanomachines and motors, boasting exceptional optical properties for plasmon-based applications.

Publications

• Controlling Intracellular Machinery via Polymer Pen Lithography Molecular Patterning. ACS Central Science, 8(9), 1282-1289.
  Lin, Millicent; Meckes, Brian; Chen, Chaojian; Teplensky, Michelle H. & Mirkin, Chad A.
  
• Cyclic polymers: synthesis, characteristics, and emerging applications. Nanoscale Horizons, 7(10), 1121-1135.
  Chen, Chaojian & Weil, Tanja
  
• Dynamic metal‒phenolic coordination complexes for versatile surface nanopatterning, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2023, 145, 7974-7982.
  C. J. Chen, M. Lin, C. Wahl, Y. Li, W. Zhou, Z. Wang, Y. Zhang & C. A. Mirkin
  
• Mirkin, Dynamic and Multifunctional Metal‒Phenolic Coordination Nanopatterns, ACS Fall Meeting, August 2023, San Francisco, CA, USA, oral presentation.
  C. J. Chen & C. A. Mirkin