Luminescent DNA-origami nano-rods dispersed in a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal

ABSTRACT

Anisometric DNA nanoparticles with precisely tailored size and shape are prepared by three-dimensional folding of DNA – DNA origami – marked with a fluorescent intercalating dye (YOYO-1), stabilised with silica, and dispersed in a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal (an aqueous solution of disodium cromoglycate). Observations by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy indicate that the luminescent nanoparticles are stable in the liquid crystal dispersion and accumulate at the positions of point defects in the liquid crystal director field. The observations indicate that silica-stabilisation of the nanoparticles prevents the dye from leaking into the liquid crystal host and that the luminescent particles assemble at disclinations.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Tailored organic nanoparticles
• sol-gel-process of silica formation
• DNA origami
• photoluminescence
• lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal

Acknowledgments

B. Z. would like to thank the President of Paderborn University for a scholarship for postdoctoral young scientists. Financial support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [DFG: LO 1922/4-1 (H. K.)] is gratefully acknowledged. K. M., L. N. and T. L. acknowledge funding from the ERC consolidator grant “DNA Funs” (Project ID: 818635).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02678292.2023.2188494

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [LO 1922/4-1]; The President of Paderborn University; ERC consolidator grant “DNA Funs” [Project ID: 818635].