English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Functionalizing colloids with reactive DNA linkers is a versatile way ofprogramming self-assembly. DNA selectivity provides direct control overcolloid-colloid interactions allowing the engineering of structures such ascomplex crystals or gels. However, self-assembly of localized and finitestructures remains an open problem with many potential applications. In thiswork, we present a system in which functionalized surfaces initiate a cascadereaction between linkers leading to self-assembly of crystals with acontrollable number of layers. Specifically, we consider colloidal particlesfunctionalized by two families of complementary DNA linkers with mobileanchoring points, as found in experiments using emulsions or lipid bilayers. Inbulk, intra-particle linkages formed by pairs of complementary linkers preventthe formation of inter-particle bridges and therefore colloid-colloidaggregation. However, colloids interact strongly with the surface given thatthe latter can destabilize intra-particle linkages. When in direct contact withthe surface, colloids are activated, meaning that they feature more unpairedDNA linkers ready to react. Activated colloids can then capture and activateother colloids from the bulk through the formation of inter-particle linkages.Using simulations and theory, validated by existing experiments, we clarify thethermodynamics of the activation and binding process and explain howparticle-particle interactions, within the adsorbed phase, weaken as a functionof the distance from the surface. The latter observation underlies thepossibility of self-assembling finite aggregates with controllable thicknessand flat solid-gas interfaces. Our design suggests a new avenue to fabricateheterogeneous and finite structures.

Surface-triggered cascade reactions between DNA linkers direct self-assembly of colloidal crystals of controllable thickness