Controlling Electromagnetic Properties of DNA-based Metamaterials
A schematic illustration of using DNA origami 2D array as template for epitaxial rearrangement of nanoparticles. The space group of DNA origami 2D array and the patterns of preorganized gold particles are highly programmable.
Nucleic acids provide unique building blocks to program nanoscale materials robustly and reproducibly using self-assembly into arbitrary 2D and 3D geometric patterns with nanometer-scale structural resolution. Here, we propose to leverage our complementary DNA-based fabrication approaches for the rational design and synthesis of next-generation electromagnetic metamaterials.
In the present project, the Bathe and Macfarlane Labs have collaborated to develop DNA-based strategies for the synthesis of biomaterials with programmable optical properties derived from hierarchical structure. These advances were achieved using high-quality and versatile wireframe 2D DNA origami and AuNP-based hybrid materials construction. DNA origami and its superstructures were characterized with cryo-EM, proving to have nearly perfect planarity in solution. Two-dimensional arrays were also successfully constructed for use as electronic/photonic wafers. Toward this end, AuNPs were fixed into prescribed nanostructures enabled by the high programmability and addressability of DNA as a building material. In summary, the major achievements of our collaborative team thus far are:
- Planar 2D wireframe DNA origami and their superstructural assemblies.
- On-surface finite 3D AuNPs assembled by 2D wireframe DNA origami scaffolds.
- Simulation of 1D grating of periodic nanoparticle superlattice structures.
- Optical simulation of a tetrahedral structure.
- Demonstration of self-assembling nanoparticle structures nucleated by DNA origami templates.
In the next stage, we will develop further strategies for constructing and fabricating DNA origami-based AuNP materials that interact with light in a controlled manner, guided by physics-based simulation. Of particular interest are plasmonic materials that interact with light in precise wavelengths and polarization state, as they can be integrated into a variety of optical-based devices such as sensors or concealment and electromagnetic shielding coatings.This will offer the exploration of the unusual effects of hierarchical organization on electromagnetic metamaterial response, as relates both to the development of designer metamaterials and the use of metamaterials for advanced sensing applications.
