Biochemical Investigation of the Formation of Three-Dimensional Networks from DNA-Grafted Large Silica Particles

Abstract

DNA is used to rationally build up networks of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) based on the molecular recognition properties of complementary sequences. Network self-assembly is controlled from DNA covalently grafted at the surface of chemically modified SiNPs. Two strategies are compared, where grafted DNA sequences are designed in a three-strand system using noncomplementary sequences and an extra DNA linker, or in a two-strand approach for direct hybridization. In this paper, both systems are compared in terms of DNA hybridization stability, network size, and three-dimensional organization using a combination of dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy. The observed differences are discussed in terms of hybridization interactions between DNA sequences in particle-free systems through fluorescence, circular dichroism, and UV spectroscopy techniques.