Bio-Nanostructure Group
DNA Nanostructures
Headed by Prof. Bernie Yurke, and in collaboration with Professors Will Hughes, Wan Kuang, Jeunghoon Lee, Elton Graugnard and Bill Knowlton, DNA is being used to engineer nanostructures for biomolecular sensor and device applications.
DNA Origami
An AFM image of a DNA-origami nanotube.
DNA-based self-assembly has proven to be the most versatile technology currently available for patterning matter on the sub-10nm length scale. In this bottom-up assembly method, DNA base pairs function as molecular recognition tags to guide self-assembly. The huge combinatorial space of DNA sequences available and the specificity with which single-stranded DNA combines to form duplex DNA have made it possible to assemble complex nanostructures.
Using a form of this technology called DNA origami, nanoscale objects consisting of more than 100 parts have been assembled with high yield. Many of these DNA-origami structures are planar and could serve as substrates on which electronic components could be placed. They could then be used to assemble circuits with feature size limited by the 0.34 nm spacing between DNA base pairs and the 2 nm width of duplex DNA.
Yurke is credited with coining the word “nanobreadboard” for such substrates in analogy with breadboards used by hobbyists and engineers to layout and interconnect electronic components.
Applications of DNA Origami
DNA nanotubes designed, fabricated & AFM imaged at Boise State
DNA origami has a number of features that make it attractive as a means for increasing component density in integrated circuits by two orders of magnitude beyond what can be done using current lithographic techniques. These include the following:
- DNA-based self-assembly lends itself to mass production. DNA origami self-assembly is carried out as a batch process in which typically trillions of identical structures are fabricated at once. The process consists of placing all the components in solution within the same vial and performing a temperature anneal.
- A variety of electrically interesting objects can already be placed on origami surfaces at precise locations. These objects include gold particles, quantum dots, and carbon nanotubes.
- DNA-origami structures can also be placed at specific locations on semiconductor surfaces. Yurke has shown that dielectrophoresis can be used for this purpose.
Images
AFM images acquired at Boise State University of triangle DNA origami. DNA samples provided by Erik Winfree’s group at CalTech.
Height and amplitude AFM images acquired at Boise State University of nanotube DNA origami.
Students
Graduate Students:
Undergraduate Students:
- Jason Brotherton (MSE, Summer 2006)
- Jonathan Henderson (MSE, Summer 2006)
- Ross Butler (ECE, Summer 2006)
- Amber Cox (MSE, Spring 2008)
- Davis Daniel (MSE, Spring 2008)
- Stephanie Barnes (MSE, Spring 2008)
- Mallory Yates (MSE, Winter Break 2008)
- Pammy Walker (MSE, Summer 2008)
Senior Design Teams:
- 2007 ECE: Dave Estrada, Antonio Oblea, and Curtis Perkins
- 2008 ECE: Hieu Bui and Dency Daniels
Staff
Collaboration:
- Prof. Bernie Yurke (Materials Science & Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering - Boise State)
- Prof. Will Hughes (Materials Science & Engineering - Boise State)
- Prof. Wan Kuang (Electrical & Computer Engineering - Boise State)
- Prof. Jeunghoon Lee (Chemistry - Boise State)
- Prof. A.J. Moll (Materials Science & Engineering - Boise State)
Funding:
- DARPA
- NIH INBRE
- NIH/NCRR BRIN 2003 Seed Award Program
- *Idaho BRIN Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Program (NCRR- NIH program)
- NIH/NCRR BRIN Faculty Development Award Program (NIH/NCRR P20 RR16454)