Self-assembly of DNA into nanoscale three-dimensional shapes

Shawn M. Douglas, Hendrik Dietz, Tim Liedl, Björn Högberg, Franziska Graf and William M. Shih ()
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Shawn M. Douglas: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Hendrik Dietz: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Tim Liedl: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Björn Högberg: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Franziska Graf: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
William M. Shih: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Nature, 2009, vol. 459, issue 7245, 414-418

Abstract: Nanomaterials get complicated An important goal in nanotechnology is the programmable self-assembly of complex, three-dimensional nanostructures. With DNA as the building block, synthesis techniques have developed to the stage where two-dimensional designer structures and certain three-dimensional structures can be produced. Douglas et al. describe a refinement of the scaffolded DNA origami technique capable of producing three-dimensional objects of more or less any desired form, to a scale of ten to a hundred nanometres, and with an impressive degree of control over the positions of the various DNA helices. The synthesis involves DNA helices arranged on pleated strands and assembled into honeycomb-like three-dimensional structures. The various strands link together via phosphate groups. The method produces complex objects that are slow to assemble. But it also provides a route towards assembling custom devices with nanometre-scale features, as demonstrated by the construction of objects with shapes resembling a square nut, slotted cross and wire-frame icosahedron.

Date: 2009
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08016

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