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Bottom‐Up Assembly of DNA–Silica Nanocomposites into Micrometer‐Sized Hollow Spheres
Author(s) -
Hu Yong,
Grösche Maximilian,
Sheshachala Sahana,
Oelschlaeger Claude,
Willenbacher Norbert,
Rabe Kersten S.,
Niemeyer Christof M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201910606
Subject(s) - nanotechnology , dna nanotechnology , micrometer , materials science , nanocomposite , polymer , nanostructure , nanoparticle , microfluidics , supramolecular chemistry , self assembly , dna , chemistry , molecule , composite material , physics , organic chemistry , biochemistry , optics
Although DNA nanotechnology has developed into a highly innovative and lively field of research at the interface between chemistry, materials science, and biotechnology, there is still a great need for methodological approaches for bridging the size regime of DNA nanostructures with that of micrometer‐ and millimeter‐sized units for practical applications. We report on novel hierarchically structured composite materials from silica nanoparticles and DNA polymers that can be obtained by self‐assembly through the clamped hybridization chain reaction. The nanocomposite materials can be assembled into thin layers within microfluidically generated water‐in‐oil droplets to produce mechanically stabilized hollow spheres with uniform size distributions at high throughput rates. The fact that cells can be encapsulated in these microcontainers suggests that our concept not only contributes to the further development of supramolecular bottom‐up manufacturing, but can also be exploited for applications in the life sciences.