Issue 45, 2020

Hyperbranched DNA clusters

Abstract

Taking advantage of the base-pairing specificity and tunability of DNA interactions, we investigate the spontaneous formation of hyperbranched clusters starting from purposely designed DNA tetravalent nanostar monomers, encoding in their four sticky ends the desired binding rules. Specifically, we combine molecular dynamics simulations and Dynamic Light Scattering experiments to follow the aggregation process of DNA nanostars at different concentrations and temperatures. At odds with the Flory–Stockmayer predictions, we find that, even when all possible bonds are formed, the system does not reach percolation due to the presence of intracluster bonds. We present an extension of the Flory–Stockmayer theory that properly describes the numerical and experimental results.

Graphical abstract: Hyperbranched DNA clusters

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Jun. 2020
Accepted
16 Okt. 2020
First published
12 Nov. 2020

Nanoscale, 2020,12, 23003-23012

Hyperbranched DNA clusters

E. Lattuada, D. Caprara, V. Lamberti and F. Sciortino, Nanoscale, 2020, 12, 23003 DOI: 10.1039/D0NR04840B

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