Linear Superclusters of Colloidal Gold Particles by Electrostatic Assembly on DNA Templates

The organization of nanoparticles into superstructures of predefined geometry is an important challenge in the area of nanoscale architecture. Attractive Coulombic interaction between positively charged amine groups on gold particle surfaces and negatively charged phosphate backbones of DNA molecules (see Figure) drives the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles into linear supercluster structures.