3D DNA Origami-Enabled Molecularly Addressable Optical Nanocircuit

TL;DR

This paper introduces a DNA origami-based method for assembling precise, molecularly addressable optical nanocircuits with high reproducibility, enabling advanced control over optical resonances and enhanced molecule-light interactions.

Contribution

The study develops a 3D DNA origami platform for assembling large plasmonic nanoparticle circuits with nanogap tunability and deterministic molecular loading, improving accuracy and functionality.

Findings

Achieved high Q-factor (~19.2) for magnetic resonance in nanocircuits.

Demonstrated 100-fold increase in PRET signal with molecular loading.

Enabled precise assembly of complex plasmonic structures with controlled symmetry.

Abstract

The optical nanocircuit concept provides a predictive framework analogous to an electric RLC circuit, where induced dipoles in plasmonic nanoparticle (NPs), ohmic losses in NPs, and dielectric gaps serve as inductors (L), capacitors (C), and resistors (R), respectively. This modular theory allows unprecedented design flexibility, expanding the range of achievable optical resonances in plasmonic clusters. However, existing experimental approaches, such as atomic force microscope tip-enabled nanomanipulation and electron-beam lithography, lack the critical accuracy in nanogap tuning and molecular loading required for applications like PRET. Here, we introduce a molecularly addressable optical nanocircuit enabled by DNA origami. First, we theoretically and experimentally confirmed that gold (Au) NPs and dye-loaded DNA origami can function as different circuit elements: R- and C-coupled L and R-coupled C, respectively. To assemble large Au NPs into designer optical nanocircuits, we utilized a mechanically robust 3D DNA origami design rather than conventionally used 2D origami sheet. This platform provided high reproducibility and accuracy in assembling a range of structures-from dimers to tetramers-with controlled symmetry, heterogeneity, and nanogap tunability. Together with ultrasmoothness and uniformity of Au NPs, we achieved the highest Q-factor for magnetic resonance of a nanoparticle-based optical nanocircuit (~19.2). Also, selective molecular cargo loading onto designated 3D DNA origami sites within plasmonic clusters enabled deterministic, predictive light-molecule coupling in optical nanocircuits. This resulted in 100-fold stronger PRET signal in dimeric clusters compared to monomeric NPs. Our approach opens promising directions in designing custom optical resonances for use in molecular sensing, nonlinear optics, and quantum photonics.