A quantitative model for a nanoscale switch accurately predicts thermal actuation behavior

TL;DR

This paper presents a physical model that predicts the thermal actuation behavior of DNA origami nano-hinges with gold nanoparticles, aligning well with experimental data and enabling temperature tuning.

Contribution

The study introduces a partition function-based model that accurately predicts nano-hinge actuation and reveals physical constraints, aiding future design of DNA-nanoparticle systems.

Findings

Model agrees with experimental data

Predicts actuation temperature range from 30°C to 45°C

Reveals physical constraints on the system

Abstract

Manipulation of temperature can be used to actuate DNA origami nano-hinges containing gold nanoparticles. We develop a physical model of this system that uses partition function analysis of the interaction between the nano-hinge and nanoparticle to predict the probability that the nano-hinge is open at a given temperature. The model agrees well with experimental data and predicts experimental conditions that allow the actuation temperature of the nano-hinge to be tuned over a range of temperatures from $30$${}^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$ to $45$${}^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$. Additionally, the model reveals surprising physical constraints on the system. This combination of physical insight and predictive potential is likely to inform future designs that integrate nanoparticles into dynamic DNA origami structures. Furthermore, our modeling approach could be expanded to consider the incorporation, stability, and actuation of other types of functional elements or actuation mechanisms integrated into nucleic acid devices.