Programmable DNA Lattices: Design Synthesis and Applications

Technology Transition:

The ability to form programmable patterned nanostructured DNA lattices opens many key opportunities for applied research in nanoscale science and engineering. These include their application as scaffolds and superstructures for molecular electronics, nanorobotics, and for aligning proteins for X-ray crystallography studies.

This research work increasing importance to US defense:

The controlled formation of crystalline materials will facilitate the structural characterization of antigens from pathogens to which military and civilian personnel have been exposed.

The reliable design of molecular structures, especially DNA nanostructures that can serve as scaffolds for molecular sensors and actuators, will aid efforts to identify, characterize, and develop antidotes for pathogens, such as bacteria.

A key spin-off of our patterned DNA lattice technology is their use in the organization of nanoelectronic materials, and in particular the use of DNA lattices as scaffolds for positioning molecular electronics components into complex circuits. Further miniaturization of electronic components and circuits directly serves the goals of "ubiquitous computing" initiatives. At least three groups (at Berkeley, Minnesota and Notre Dame) are utilizing the 2D DNA lattice technology developed in our preliminary studies; we have provided the enabling technology for their work.

Further applications of DNA lattices includes the patterned assembly of arrays of nanoactuators, nanorobotics, and nanosensors.