DNA-linked nanoparticle building blocks for nanostructure assembly and methods of producing the same

1. A method of producing a DNA-nanoparticle complex utilizing an aqueous-phase anisotropic sequential ligand replacement technique, the method comprising:

attaching a first DNA linker having a length of about 5 to about 100 nucleotides to a bead to form a first DNA-bead complex; and

combining a nanoparticle comprising gold and having a diameter of about 1 nanometer to about 30 nanometers with the first DNA-bead complex to form a first nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex having one DNA linker attached to the nanoparticle and coupled to the bead;

releasing the bead from the first nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex to form a first nanoparticle-DNA complex having one DNA linker attached to the nanoparticle;

attaching a second DNA linker having a length of about 5 to about 100 nucleotides to a bead to form a second DNA-bead complex;

combining the first nanoparticle-DNA complex with the second DNA-bead complex to form a second nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex having two DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle; and

releasing the bead from the second nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex to form a second nanoparticle-DNA complex having two DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle that are approximately 180 degrees apart from one another.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two DNA linkers in the second nanoparticle-DNA complex are approximately parallel to one another.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

attaching a third DNA linker having a length of about 5 to about 100 nucleotides to a bead to form a third DNA-bead complex; and

combining the second nanoparticle-DNA complex with the third DNA-bead complex to form a third nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex having three DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising releasing the bead from the third nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex to form a third nanoparticle-DNA complex having three DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle, wherein two of the three DNA linkers in the third nanoparticle-DNA complex are approximately parallel to one another and the third DNA linker is approximately perpendicular to the other DNA linkers.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

attaching a fourth DNA linker having a length of about 5 to about 100 nucleotides to a bead to form a fourth DNA-bead complex; and

combining the third nanoparticle-DNA complex with the fourth DNA-bead complex to form a fourth nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex having four DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising releasing the bead from the fourth nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex to form a fourth nanoparticle-DNA complex having four DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle, wherein the four DNA linkers in the fourth nanoparticle-DNA complex form a square planar configuration in which each DNA linker is approximately parallel to one other DNA linker and approximately perpendicular to two other DNA linkers and all four DNA linkers are approximately coplanar.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

attaching a fifth DNA linker having a length of about 5 to about 100 nucleotides to a bead to form a fifth DNA-bead complex; and

combining the fourth nanoparticle-DNA complex with the fifth DNA-bead complex to form a fifth nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex having five DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising releasing the bead from the fifth nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex to form a fifth nanoparticle-DNA complex having five DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle, wherein four of the five DNA linkers in the fifth nanoparticle-DNA complex form a square planar configuration in which each of the four DNA linkers is approximately parallel to one other DNA linker and approximately perpendicular to two other DNA linkers and all of the four DNA linkers are approximately coplanar, and wherein the fifth DNA linker is approximately perpendicular to each of the other four DNA linkers.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

attaching a sixth DNA linker having a length of about 5 to about 100 nucleotides to a bead to form a sixth DNA-bead complex; and

combining the fifth nanoparticle-DNA complex with the sixth DNA-bead complex to form a sixth nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex having six DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising releasing the bead from the sixth nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex to form a sixth nanoparticle-DNA complex having six DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle, wherein the DNA linkers form an octahedral arrangement in which each DNA linker is approximately parallel to one other DNA linker and approximately perpendicular to the other four DNA linkers.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least two of the DNA linkers attached to the nanoparticle are different from each other.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising purifying the first nanoparticle-DNA complex.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising combining a complementary DNA nanoparticle complex with the first nanoparticle-DNA complex, wherein the complementary DNA-nanoparticle complex comprises a complementary DNA which hybridizes with the DNA of the first nanoparticle-DNA complex.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bead is negatively charged.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps are carried out in an aqueous environment.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first DNA linker is shorter than a persistence length of double-stranded DNA.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first DNA linker includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a first functional group, and further comprising covalently or non-covalently binding the first functional group to the bead.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second end of the first DNA linker includes a second functional group, and further comprising covalently binding the second functional group to the nanoparticle.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein releasing the bead from the first nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex to form a first nanoparticle-DNA complex comprises breaking the bond between the first functional group and the bead.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the steps are carried out in an aqueous environment, and wherein releasing the bead from the first nanoparticle-DNA-bead complex to form a first nanoparticle-DNA complex does not affect the bond between the second functional group and the nanoparticle.