Structured Nucleic Acid Polymer Micelle with Inorganic Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nanomaterial manufacturing techniques face challenges in achieving precise control over the shape, size, and surface functionality of nanomaterials, particularly in maintaining stability across varying environmental conditions such as temperature, solvents, and pH, while also ensuring precise placement of functional moieties.
Innovation Solution
The development of functional nucleic acid supramolecular structures, specifically structured nucleic acid polymer micelles with an inorganic shell, where functional moieties extend outside the micelle and shell, allowing for precise control over the placement and composition of active moieties on the surface, and the use of DNA origami as a template for inorganic material growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If DNA origami is used as a template for precise placement of functional moieties, then manufacturing precision is improved, but stability under varying environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines nucleic acid templates with inorganic materials (silica, metal oxides, metals) to create composite nanomaterials. The inorganic shell provides environmental stability while the nucleic acid template maintains precise structural control and functional moiety placement. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating the strengths of both material types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the nucleic acid template through inorganic coating and crosslinking. By changing the structural parameters (adding inorganic shell, modifying surface chemistry), the template gains environmental stability while preserving its ability to precisely position functional moieties.
2Stability of the object's composition
If inorganic nanoparticles are synthesized for environmental stability, then stability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The nucleic acid template serves as an intermediary structure during inorganic nanoparticle synthesis. It acts as a mold or scaffold that guides the formation of inorganic materials with precise shapes and sizes. The template's structured geometry is transferred to the inorganic shell, enabling controlled synthesis rather than random formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The nucleic acid template is pre-assembled into the desired shape and structure before inorganic material deposition. This preliminary structuring establishes the geometric framework that dictates the final shape and size of the inorganic nanoparticle, ensuring manufacturing precision is achieved before the stability-enhancing inorganic layer is added.
3Manufacturing precision
If lithography techniques are used for nanomaterial fabrication, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The nucleic acid template self-assembles through programmed base-pairing interactions, automatically forming the desired structure without external manipulation. This self-assembly process replaces complex lithography procedures with a simpler, programmable molecular recognition process that inherently achieves high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical lithography systems with a molecular self-assembly system based on nucleic acid hybridization. Instead of using mechanical tools to pattern materials, the system uses programmed molecular interactions to spontaneously form precise structures, significantly reducing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the creation of thermostable and enzymatically stable nanoparticles with precise surface functionality, maintaining stability across a wide range of solvents and conditions, and allows for controlled silica growth on DNA origami templates, enhancing the precision and reliability of nanomaterial synthesis.
Implementation Method 1
polymers that interact with nucleic acid present in the template to form the structured nucleic acid polymer micelle
Implementation Method 2
an inorganic shell surrounding the structured nucleic acid template
Implementation Method 3
the one or more functional moieties extend outside the structured nucleic acid polymer micelle and the inorganic shell
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are inorganic nucleic acid supramolecular structures and methods for making them. In certain aspects, the construct includes a structured nucleic acid polymer micelle, which micelle includes a structured nucleic acid template; one or more functional moieties attached to the template; and polymers that interact with nucleic acid present in the template to form the structured nucleic acid polymer micelle; and an inorganic shell surrounding the structured nucleic acid template, in which the one or more functional moieties extend outside the structured nucleic acid polymer micelle and the inorganic shell to maintain functionality.