# DNA Nanostructure Deposition on Self-Assembled Monolayers

## TL;DR

This paper shows how DNA nanostructures behave differently on various surfaces, which is important for DNA nanotechnology applications.

## Contribution

The study reveals how DNA nanostructure stability depends on surface wettability and washing procedures.

## Key findings

- DNA nanostructures remain stable on hydrophilic surfaces but deform on hydrophobic ones.
- Postdeposition washing procedures significantly affect nanostructure stability.
- Hydrophobicity correlates with increased deformation due to disrupted hydrogen bonding and interfacial tension.

## Abstract

We report the deposition
of DNA nanostructures on self-assembled
monolayers (SAMs), focusing on the stability of DNA nanostructures
on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic SAMs. Our study reveals distinct
outcomes based on the nature of the SAMs. DNA nanostructures maintain
structural integrity on hydrophilic SAMs, whereas they experience
deformation on the most hydrophobic SAMs. Interestingly, the stability
of DNA nanostructures is also sensitive to postdeposition washing
procedures. The observations shed light on the intricate interplay
between the wettability of SAMs and the structural stability of the
DNA nanostructures. An empirical trend emerged where increased hydrophobicity
is associated with a more severe deformation of DNA nanostructures.
This deformation is hypothesized to arise from disrupted hydrogen
bonding within DNA nanostructures and is exacerbated by interfacial
tension during the drying process. Our study also highlights the potential
role of π–π stacking interactions between the DNA
bases and the SAMs in stabilizing the DNA nanostructures. Our work
expands the type of substrates that can be used for applications of
DNA nanotechnology and highlights the need for a comprehensive understanding
of the interactions between DNA nanostructures with different surfaces.