Controlling the Chirality of DNA Nanocages

摘要

We report a rational approach for controlling the chirality of self-assembled DNA nanocages at the nanoscale. Chirality on the nanoscale originates from the asymmetric characteristics of the component DNA building block (DNA nanomotif), but is distinct from the intrinsic, molecular-level chirality of the DNA duplex. By purposely removing two-dimensional (2D) rotation symmetry from the DNA nanomotif, we can control the three-dimensional (3D) chirality of the DNA nanocages. Such chiral control would be useful for tuning the photonic/ optical properties of nanophotonic devices when DNA nano-structures are used as structural scaffolds.