Imparting biomolecules to a metal-organic framework material by controlled DNA tetrahedron encapsulation

Abstract

Recently, the incorporation of biomolecules in Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) attracts many attentions because of controlling the functions, properties and stability of trapped molecules. Although there are few reports on protein/MOFs composites and their applications, none of DNA/MOFs composite is reported, as far as we know. Here, we report a new composite material which is self-assembled from 3D DNA (guest) and pre-synthesized MOFs (host) by electrostatic interactions and hydrophilic interactions in a well-dispersed fashion. Its biophysical characterization is well analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This new composite material keeps 3D DNA nanostructure more stable than only 3D DNA nanostructure in DI water at room temperature, and stores amounts of genetic information. It will make DNA as a guest for MOFs and MOFs become a new platform for the development of DNA nanotechnology.

Exploitation of Guest Accessible Aliphatic Amine Functionality of a Metal–Organic Framework for Selective Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol (TNP) in Water

“…These features result in the rational design and study of MOF materials for the desired selective detection of cations, anions, small molecules, explosives and biomolecules. 13,48,80,[86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99] In view of the targeted selective TNP detection in water by MOFs with high sensitivity, regardless of the latest advances, the reports of fluorescent MOFs exhibiting selective and sensitive TNP detection in concurrent presence of other nitro analytes are only few, while most of the reported MOFs involve detection only in organic/ organic-water mixture phase. 86 Subsequent to the discovery of the key role of lewis basic pyridyl functionality behind selective aqueous-media TNP sensing; 88 as a first-of-its kind approach, very recently, our group had come up with two reports of aqueous phase selective TNP-sensing based on two different MOF compounds.…”

Hybrid, multiplexed, functional DNA nanotechnology for bioanalysis

“…To be stable as double strand in water, DNA must associate with counter ions from solution. 55 Such ions form a cloud around the charge density of the nucleic acid and are not bound at specific sites. This leads to a decrease of the effective charge on the nucleic acids, thus reducing the repulsion between the two strands of a double strand DNA.…”

“…It was Seeman's first vision to build three-dimensional DNA structures by tiles. His initial work includes DNA cubes 21 and DNA-truncated 55 octahedron. 22 Due to the lack of appropriate tools at that time, the DNA cubes were never been characterized.…”

“…Rothemund found out that it is possible to use crossover spacing to manipulate the packing distance between adjacent helices. To make a flat configuration, integer half-helical 55 turns must be employed. In raster-fill rectangular DNA origami structures, 1.5 turns between crossovers result in 1nm distance between parallel helices and 2.5 turns give 1.5 nm distance.…”

“…5 Since those years, DNA has been successively used as a fundamental tool for fabricating ordered nanostructures like "tiles based" DNA constructs. In 2006, Rothemund invented DNA origami method which allowed for the self-assembling of a unique programmable molecular units 55 having immense potentiality for life sciences, molecular electronics and diagnostics. 6 DNA origami structures provide functional surfaces for the specific arrangement of inorganic and organic materials within precision as small as seven nanometer.…”