DNA-Assembled Multilayer Sliding Nanosystems

TL;DR

This paper presents DNA-assembled multilayer nanosystems capable of coordinated, reversible sliding motion powered by DNA fuels, integrating gold nanoparticles for optical detection and dynamic interaction with fluorophores.

Contribution

It introduces a novel DNA nanotechnology approach to create complex, optically active multilayer nanosystems with programmable sliding functions.

Findings

Demonstrated DNA-assembled multilayer nanosystems with reversible sliding.

Gold nanoparticles enable optical probing of nanosystem dynamics.

Achieved in situ detection of stepwise sliding processes.

Abstract

DNA nanotechnology allows for the realization of complex nanoarchitectures in which the spatial arrangements of different constituents and most functions can be enabled by DNA. When optically active components are integrated in such systems, the resulting nanoarchitectures not only provide great insights into the self-assembly of nanoscale elements in a systematic way but also impart tailored optical functionality to DNA origami. In this Letter, we demonstrate DNA-assembled multilayer nanosystems, which can carry out coordinated and reversible sliding motion powered by DNA fuels. Gold nanoparticles cross-link DNA origami filaments to define the configurations of the multilayer nanoarchitectures as well as to mediate relative sliding between the neighboring origami filaments. Meanwhile, the gold nanoparticles serve as optical probes to dynamically interact with the fluorophores tethered on the filaments, rendering in situ detection of the stepwise sliding processes possible. This work seeds the basis to implement DNA-assembled complex optical nanoarchitectures with programmability and addressability, advancing the field with new momentum.