Advancing Wireframe DNA Nanostructures Using Single-Molecule Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques

ConspectusDNA nanotechnology relies on the molecular recognition properties of DNA to produce complex architectures through self-assembly. The resulting DNA nanostructures allow scientists to organize functional materials at the nanoscale and have therefore found applications in many domains of materials science over the past several years. These scaffolds have been used to position proteins, nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and other nanomaterials with high spatial resolution. In addition to their remarkable performance as frameworks for other species, DNA constructs also possess interesting dynamic properties, which have led to their use in logic circuits, drug delivery vehicles, and molecular walkers.Although DNA nanostructures have become increasingly complex, the development of tools to study them has lagged. Currently, gel electrophoresis, dynamic light scattering, and ensemble fluorescence measurements are widely used to characterize DNA-based assemblies. Unfortunately, ensemble averaging in these ...