| TECHNOLOGY |
In addition to its role as the biological instruction manual, DNA can be used as a construction material. Authors has designed a DNA nanostructure in which four-armed DNA "tiles" in the shape of a plus sign assemble into two distinct lattice forms: nanoribbons and two-dimensional nanogrids. Each tile is made of nine DNA strands, with one strand in the center participating in all four arms of the tile. By changing the ends of the DNA strands, the team can control which lattice structure forms. The DNA nanogrid structure (shown) has large cavities that can be used as binding sites for other molecules. The grids were used as templates for streptavidin protein arrays by incorporating biotin into the tiles. Also, the nanoribbon structure was used to template the formation of highly conductive silver nanowires.
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