Issue 43, 2023

Transient co-assemblies of micron-scale colloids regulated by ATP-fueled reaction networks

Abstract

Self-assembly of colloidal particles offers an attractive bottom-up approach to functional materials. Current design strategies for colloidal assemblies are mostly based on thermodynamically controlled principles and lack autonomous behavior. The next advance in the properties of colloidal assemblies will come from coupling these structures to out-of-equilibrium chemical reaction networks furnishing them with autonomous and dynamic behavior. This, however, constitutes a major challenge of carefully modulating the interparticle potentials on a temporal circuit program and avoiding kinetic trapping and irreversible aggregation. Herein, we report the coupling of a fuel-driven DNA-based enzymatic reaction network (ERN) to micron-sized colloidal particles to achieve their transient co-assembly. The ERN operating on the molecular level transiently releases an Output strand which links two DNA functionalized microgel particles together into co-assemblies with a programmable assembly lifetime. The system generates minimal waste and recovers all components of the ERN after the consumption of the ATP fuel. The system can be reactivated by addition of new fuel as shown for up to three cycles. The design can be applied to organize other building blocks into hierarchical structures and materials with advanced biomimetic properties.

Graphical abstract: Transient co-assemblies of micron-scale colloids regulated by ATP-fueled reaction networks

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
01 Aug. 2023
Accepted
15 Okt. 2023
First published
16 Okt. 2023
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2023,14, 12299-12307

Transient co-assemblies of micron-scale colloids regulated by ATP-fueled reaction networks

C. Sharma, A. Sarkar and A. Walther, Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 12299 DOI: 10.1039/D3SC04017H

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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