Scientific Breakthrough: Northwestern University Researchers Engineer Colloidal Quasicrystals Using DNA-Modified Building Blocks

Innovative Approach Unveils New Avenues for Nanoscale Design

A team of researchers from the Mirkin Group at Northwestern University’s International Institute for Nanotechnology in collaboration with the University of Michigan and the Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials- CIC biomaGUNE, has achieved a groundbreaking accomplishment in the field of nanotechnology. Their work, set to be published in the journal Nature Materials under the title “Colloidal Quasicrystals Engineered with DNA,” unveils a novel methodology to engineer colloidal quasicrystals using DNA-modified building blocks.

Characterized by ordered yet non-repeating patterns, quasicrystals have long perplexed scientists. “The existence of quasicrystals has been a puzzle for decades and their discovery appropriately was awarded with a Nobel Prize,” remarks Professor Chad Mirkin, the study’s lead researcher. “Although there are now several known examples, discovered in nature or through serendipitous routes, our research demystifies their formation and more importantly shows how we can harness the programmable nature of DNA to design and assemble quasicrystals deliberately.”

The focal point of the study was the assembly of decahedral nanoparticles (NPs) – particles with ten sides – utilizing DNA as a guiding scaffold. Through a combination of computer simulations and meticulous experiments, the team unearthed a remarkable discovery: these decahedral

NPs can be orchestrated to form quasicrystalline structures with intriguing five- and six-coordinated motifs, ultimately culminating in the creation of a dodecagonal quasicrystal (DDQC).

“Decahedral nanoparticles possess a distinctive five-fold symmetry that challenges the conventional periodic tiling norms,” Professor Mirkin explains. “By leveraging the programmable capabilities of DNA, we were able to direct the assembly of these nanoparticles into a robust quasicrystalline structure.”

The researchers functionalized decahedral gold nanoparticles with short, double-stranded DNA, and implemented a precisely controlled cooling process to facilitate the assembly. The resultant quasicrystalline superlattices exhibited medium-range quasiperiodic order, with rigorous structural analyses confirming the presence of twelve-fold symmetry and a distinctive triangle-square tiling pattern, hallmark features of a DDQC.

“Interestingly, the simulations discovered that, unlike most axial quasicrystals, the tiling pattern of the slices in the decahedron quasicrystal do not repeat identically from one layer to the next. Instead, a significant percentage of the tiles are different, in a random way. This randomness produces a disorder that helps to stabilize the crystal,” said Professor Sharon Glotzer, co-corresponding author of the study and chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan.

The implications of this breakthrough are far-reaching, offering a potential blueprint for the controlled synthesis of other complex structures previously considered beyond reach. As the scientific community delves into the boundless prospects of programmable matter, this research paves the way for transformative advancements and applications in diverse scientific domains.

“Through the successful engineering of colloidal quasicrystals, we have achieved a significant milestone in the realm of nanoscience. Our work not only sheds light on the design and creation of intricate nanoscale structures but also opens a world of possibilities for advanced materials and innovative nanotechnology applications,” declared Professor Luis Liz-Marzán, a senior coauthor of the study from CIC biomaGUNE.

Luis M. Liz-Marzán, and Sharon C. Glotzer, are co-authors of the paper “Colloidal Quasicrystals Engineered with DNA,” which is set to be published in Nature Materials on November 2.

Founded in 2000 as an umbrella organization to coalesce and foster nanotechnology efforts, the IIN represents and unites more than $1 billion in nanotechnology research, educational programs, and supporting infrastructure.

For media inquiries, contact Seth Zimmerman at seth.zimmerman@northwestern.edu.