Sequential self-assembly of DNA functionalized droplets

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 21
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yin, McMullen, Angus, Pontani, Lea-Laetitia, He, Xiaojin, Sha, Ruojie, Seeman, Nadrian C., Brujic, Jasna, Chaikin, Paul M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 16.06.2017; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; 639/301/54/989; 639/301/923/916; 639/301/923/966; Base Pairing; Base Sequence; bioinspired materials; colloids; Condensed Matter; DNA - chemistry; DNA Probes - chemistry; Emulsions; Engineering Sciences; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; Humanities and Social Sciences; MATERIALS SCIENCE; Micro and nanotechnologies; Microelectronics; multidisciplinary; Nanotechnology - methods; Phosphatidylethanolamines - chemistry; Physics; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polymerization; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); self-assembly; Silicone Oils - chemistry; Soft Condensed Matter; Staining and Labeling - methods
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00070-0

Complex structures and devices, both natural and manmade, are often constructed sequentially. From crystallization to embryogenesis, a nucleus or seed is formed and built upon. Sequential assembly allows for initiation, signaling, and logical programming, which are necessary for making enclosed, hierarchical structures. Although biology relies on such schemes, they have not been available in materials science. Here, we demonstrate programmed sequential self-assembly of DNA functionalized emulsions. The droplets are initially inert because the grafted DNA strands are pre-hybridized in pairs. Active strands on initiator droplets then displace one of the paired strands and thus release its complement, which in turn activates the next droplet in the sequence, akin to living polymerization. Our strategy provides time and logic control during the self-assembly process, and offers a new perspective on the synthesis of materials. Natural complex systems are often constructed by sequential assembly but this is not readily available for synthetic systems. Here, the authors program the sequential self-assembly of DNA functionalized emulsions by altering the DNA grafted strands.