Toward Larger DNA Origami

Structural
DNA nanotechnology, and specifically scaffolded DNA origami, is rapidly
developing as a versatile method for bottom-up fabrication of novel
nanometer-scale materials and devices. However, lengths of conventional
single-stranded scaffolds, for example, 7,249-nucleotide circular
genomic DNA from the M13mp18 phage, limit the scales of these uniquely
addressable structures. Additionally, increasing DNA origami size
generates the cost burden of increased staple-strand synthesis. We
addressed this 2-fold problem by developing the following methods:
(1) production of the largest to-date biologically derived single-stranded
scaffold using a λ/M13 hybrid virus to produce a 51 466-nucleotide
DNA in a circular, single-stranded form and (2) inexpensive DNA synthesis
via an inkjet-printing process on a chip embossed with functionalized
micropillars made from cyclic olefin copolymer. We have experimentally
demonstrated very efficient assembly of a 51-kilobasepair origami
from the λ/M13 hybrid scaffold folded by chip-derived staple
strands. In addition, we have demonstrated two-dimensional, asymmetric
origami sheets with controlled global curvature such that they land
on a substrate in predictable orientations that have been verified
by atomic force microscopy.