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Cervantes-Salguero K, Kadrmas M, Ward BM, Lysne D, Wolf A, Piantanida L, Pascual G, Knowlton WB. Minimizing Structural Heterogeneity in DNA Self-Assembled Dye Templating via DNA Origami-Tuned Conformations. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:10195-10207. [PMID: 38690801 PMCID: PMC11100016 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
With recent advances in DNA-templated dye aggregation for leveraging and engineering molecular excitons, a need exists for minimizing structural heterogeneity. Holliday Junction complexes (HJ) are commonly used to covalently template dye aggregates on their core; however, the global conformation of HJ is detrimentally dynamic. Here, the global conformation of the HJ is selectively tuned by restricting its position and orientation by using a sheet-like DNA origami construct (DOC) physisorbed on glass. The HJ arms are fixed with four different designed interduplex angles (IDAs). Atomic force microscopy confirmed that the HJs are bound to the surface of DOC with tuned IDAs. Dye orientation distributions were determined by combining dipole imaging and super-resolution microscopy. All IDAs led to dye orientations having dispersed distributions along planes perpendicular to the HJ plane, suggesting that stacking occurred between the dye and the neighboring DNA bases. The dye-base stacking interpretation was supported by increasing the size of the core cavity. The narrowest IDA minimizes structural heterogeneity and suggests dye intercalation. A strong correlation is found between the IDA and the orientation of the dye along the HJ plane. These results show that the HJ imposes restrictions on the dye and that the dye-DNA interactions are always present regardless of global conformation. The implications of our results are discussed for the scalability of dye aggregates using DNA self-assembly. Our methodology provides an avenue for the solid-supported single-molecule characterization of molecular assemblies templated on biomolecules─such as DNA and protein templates involved in light-harvesting and catalysis─with tuned conformations and restricted in position and orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keitel Cervantes-Salguero
- Micron
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, United States
| | - Madison Kadrmas
- Micron
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, United States
| | - Brett M. Ward
- Micron
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, United States
| | - Drew Lysne
- Micron
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, United States
| | - Amanda Wolf
- Biomolecular
Sciences Graduate Programs, Boise State
University, Boise, Idaho 83725, United States
| | - Luca Piantanida
- Micron
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, United States
| | - Gissela Pascual
- Micron
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, United States
| | - William B. Knowlton
- Micron
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, United States
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, United States
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Green CM, Sementa D, Mathur D, Melinger JS, Deshpande P, Elbaum-Garfinkle S, Medintz IL, Ulijn RV, Díaz SA. Sequestration within peptide coacervates improves the fluorescence intensity, kinetics, and limits of detection of dye-based DNA biosensors. Commun Chem 2024; 7:49. [PMID: 38424154 PMCID: PMC10904739 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01124-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptide-based liquid-liquid phase separated domains, or coacervates, are a biomaterial gaining new interest due to their exciting potential in fields ranging from biosensing to drug delivery. In this study, we demonstrate that coacervates provide a simple and biocompatible medium to improve nucleic acid biosensors through the sequestration of both the biosensor and target strands within the coacervate, thereby increasing their local concentration. Using the well-established polyarginine (R9) - ATP coacervate system and an energy transfer-based DNA molecular beacon we observed three key improvements: i) a greater than 20-fold reduction of the limit of detection within coacervates when compared to control buffer solutions; ii) an increase in the kinetics, equilibrium was reached more than 4-times faster in coacervates; and iii) enhancement in the dye fluorescent quantum yields within the coacervates, resulting in greater signal-to-noise. The observed benefits translate into coacervates greatly improving bioassay functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Green
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Deborah Sementa
- Nanoscience Initiative at Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Divita Mathur
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Joseph S Melinger
- Electronics Sciences and Technology Division Code 6816, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Priyasha Deshpande
- Structural Biology Initiative at Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Shana Elbaum-Garfinkle
- Structural Biology Initiative at Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
- Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Igor L Medintz
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Rein V Ulijn
- Nanoscience Initiative at Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
- Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Chemistry Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Sebastián A Díaz
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA.
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Pascual G, Roy SK, Barcenas G, Wilson CK, Cervantes-Salguero K, Obukhova OM, Krivoshey AI, Terpetschnig EA, Tatarets AL, Li L, Yurke B, Knowlton WB, Mass OA, Pensack RD, Lee J. Effect of hydrophilicity-imparting substituents on exciton delocalization in squaraine dye aggregates covalently templated to DNA Holliday junctions. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:1206-1222. [PMID: 38113123 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr04499h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Molecular aggregates exhibit emergent properties, including the collective sharing of electronic excitation energy known as exciton delocalization, that can be leveraged in applications such as quantum computing, optical information processing, and light harvesting. In a previous study, we found unexpectedly large excitonic interactions (quantified by the excitonic hopping parameter Jm,n) in DNA-templated aggregates of squaraine (SQ) dyes with hydrophilic-imparting sulfo and butylsulfo substituents. Here, we characterize DNA Holliday junction (DNA-HJ) templated aggregates of an expanded set of SQs and evaluate their optical properties in the context of structural heterogeneity. Specifically, we characterized the orientation of and Jm,n between dyes in dimer aggregates of non-chlorinated and chlorinated SQs. Three new chlorinated SQs that feature a varying number of butylsulfo substituents were synthesized and attached to a DNA-HJ via a covalent linker to form adjacent and transverse dimers. Various characteristics of the dye, including its hydrophilicity (in terms of log Po/w) and surface area, and of the substituents, including their local bulkiness and electron withdrawing capacity, were quantified computationally. The orientation of and Jm,n between the dyes were estimated using a model based on Kühn-Renger-May theory to fit the absorption and circular dichroism spectra. The results suggested that adjacent dimer aggregates of all the non-chlorinated and of the most hydrophilic chlorinated SQ dyes exhibit heterogeneity; that is, they form a mixture of dimers subpopulations. A key finding of this work is that dyes with a higher hydrophilicity (lower log Po/w) formed dimers with smaller Jm,n and large center-to-center dye distance (Rm,n). Also, the results revealed that the position of the dye in the DNA-HJ template, that is, adjacent or transverse, impacted Jm,n. Lastly, we found that Jm,n between symmetrically substituted dyes was reduced by increasing the local bulkiness of the substituent. This work provides insights into how to maintain strong excitonic coupling and identifies challenges associated with heterogeneity, which will help to improve control of these dye aggregates and move forward their potential application as quantum information systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gissela Pascual
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
| | - Simon K Roy
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
| | - German Barcenas
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
| | - Christopher K Wilson
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
| | | | - Olena M Obukhova
- State Scientific Institution "Institute for Single Crystals" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv 61072, Ukraine
| | - Alexander I Krivoshey
- State Scientific Institution "Institute for Single Crystals" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv 61072, Ukraine
| | | | - Anatoliy L Tatarets
- State Scientific Institution "Institute for Single Crystals" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv 61072, Ukraine
| | - Lan Li
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
| | - Bernard Yurke
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
| | - William B Knowlton
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
| | - Olga A Mass
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
| | - Ryan D Pensack
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
| | - Jeunghoon Lee
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA.
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Mathur D, Díaz SA, Hildebrandt N, Pensack RD, Yurke B, Biaggne A, Li L, Melinger JS, Ancona MG, Knowlton WB, Medintz IL. Pursuing excitonic energy transfer with programmable DNA-based optical breadboards. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:7848-7948. [PMID: 37872857 PMCID: PMC10642627 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00936a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
DNA nanotechnology has now enabled the self-assembly of almost any prescribed 3-dimensional nanoscale structure in large numbers and with high fidelity. These structures are also amenable to site-specific modification with a variety of small molecules ranging from drugs to reporter dyes. Beyond obvious application in biotechnology, such DNA structures are being pursued as programmable nanoscale optical breadboards where multiple different/identical fluorophores can be positioned with sub-nanometer resolution in a manner designed to allow them to engage in multistep excitonic energy-transfer (ET) via Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) or other related processes. Not only is the ability to create such complex optical structures unique, more importantly, the ability to rapidly redesign and prototype almost all structural and optical analogues in a massively parallel format allows for deep insight into the underlying photophysical processes. Dynamic DNA structures further provide the unparalleled capability to reconfigure a DNA scaffold on the fly in situ and thus switch between ET pathways within a given assembly, actively change its properties, and even repeatedly toggle between two states such as on/off. Here, we review progress in developing these composite materials for potential applications that include artificial light harvesting, smart sensors, nanoactuators, optical barcoding, bioprobes, cryptography, computing, charge conversion, and theranostics to even new forms of optical data storage. Along with an introduction into the DNA scaffolding itself, the diverse fluorophores utilized in these structures, their incorporation chemistry, and the photophysical processes they are designed to exploit, we highlight the evolution of DNA architectures implemented in the pursuit of increased transfer efficiency and the key lessons about ET learned from each iteration. We also focus on recent and growing efforts to exploit DNA as a scaffold for assembling molecular dye aggregates that host delocalized excitons as a test bed for creating excitonic circuits and accessing other quantum-like optical phenomena. We conclude with an outlook on what is still required to transition these materials from a research pursuit to application specific prototypes and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divita Mathur
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH 44106, USA
| | - Sebastián A Díaz
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, USA.
| | - Niko Hildebrandt
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
- Department of Engineering Physics, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4L7, Canada
| | - Ryan D Pensack
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
| | - Bernard Yurke
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
| | - Austin Biaggne
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
| | - Lan Li
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
- Center for Advanced Energy Studies, Idaho Falls, ID 83401, USA
| | - Joseph S Melinger
- Electronics Science and Technology Division, Code 6800, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA
| | - Mario G Ancona
- Electronics Science and Technology Division, Code 6800, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
| | - William B Knowlton
- Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
| | - Igor L Medintz
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, USA.
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Cervantes-Salguero K, Gutiérrez Fosado YA, Megone W, Gautrot JE, Palma M. Programmed Self-Assembly of DNA Nanosheets with Discrete Single-Molecule Thickness and Interfacial Mechanics: Design, Simulation, and Characterization. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28093686. [PMID: 37175096 PMCID: PMC10180480 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28093686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA is programmed to hierarchically self-assemble into superstructures spanning from nanometer to micrometer scales. Here, we demonstrate DNA nanosheets assembled out of a rationally designed flexible DNA unit (F-unit), whose shape resembles a Feynman diagram. F-units were designed to self-assemble in two dimensions and to display a high DNA density of hydrophobic moieties. oxDNA simulations confirmed the planarity of the F-unit. DNA nanosheets with a thickness of a single DNA duplex layer and with large coverage (at least 30 μm × 30 μm) were assembled from the liquid phase at the solid/liquid interface, as unambiguously evidenced by atomic force microscopy imaging. Interestingly, single-layer nanodiscs formed in solution at low DNA concentrations. DNA nanosheet superstructures were further assembled at liquid/liquid interfaces, as demonstrated by the fluorescence of a double-stranded DNA intercalator. Moreover, the interfacial mechanical properties of the nanosheet superstructures were measured as a response to temperature changes, demonstrating the control of interfacial shear mechanics based on DNA nanostructure engineering. The rational design of the F-unit, along with the presented results, provide an avenue toward the controlled assembly of reconfigurable/responsive nanosheets and membranes at liquid/liquid interfaces, to be potentially used in the characterization of biomechanical processes and materials transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keitel Cervantes-Salguero
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | | | - William Megone
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Julien E Gautrot
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Matteo Palma
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
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