DNA-Programmable Assembly of Nanoparticles into Precision Anisotropic Architectures

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The self-assembly of nanoparticles into precision anisotropic architectures has attracted great interest in both academia and industry because the generated nanostructures can offer unique properties, which are useful for diverse applications in medicine, catalysis, sensing, optics, electronics, and energy-related areas. Nucleic acids are extremely attractive ligands that can be used for directing particle assembly because they have remarkable molecular recognition properties and programmable nature based on the specific Watson-Crick base pairing interactions. In this project, the applicant will focus on constructing precision anisotropic nanoparticle architectures both in solution and onto surfaces via DNA-programmed assembly, and exploring their potential applications in biosensing, catalysis, optics, and electronics. Due to the specificity and tunability of the complexation between complimentary DNA sequences, novel structures with unprecedented precision will be obtained using state-of-the-art tools in DNA nanotechnology. This project will not only establish general strategies for preparing anisotropic nanoparticle assemblies such as Janus nanoparticles and chain-like assemblies, but will also significantly broaden the topologies of nanoparticle architectures which are not achievable with traditional methods. More importantly, these anisotropic structures will enable many new applications in catalysis, biomedicine, and optical and electronic devices. The applicant’s strong theoretical background and distinguished experimental expertise in polymer science, biomolecules, nanomaterial synthesis and nanolithography are vital to achieve the key goals in the project, such as the regioselective functionalization of nanoparticles with DNA via polymer-assisted approaches, the exploration of novel anisotropic architectures especially polymer-like assemblies with different topologies, and the successful preparation of patterned surfaces with DNA functionalities for nanoparticle assembly. In addition, the supervisor will provide the applicant with comprehensive and effective guidance in DNA nanotechnology and nanomaterial preparation, an outstanding research environment with sufficient funding and all necessary infrastructures and facilities, as well as excellent collaboration opportunities and strong support for long-term career development. These supports will ensure the successful implementation of the project and allow the applicant to become an extremely promising and competitive young scientist with career maturity.