| dc.description.abstract | The controlled organization of individual molecules and nanostructures with
nanoscale accuracy is of great importance in the investigation of single-molecule events
in biological and chemical assays, as well as for the fabrication of the next generation
optoelectronic devices. In this regard, the precise patterning of individual molecules
into hierarchical structures has attracted substantial research interest in recent years.
DNA has been shown to be an ideal structural material for this purpose, due to the
specificity of its programmability and outstanding chemical flexibility. DNA origami
can display a high degree of positional and precise binding sites, allowing for complex
arrangements and the assembly of different nanoscale architectures.
In this project, we present a novel platform based on the use of DNA scaffolds
for the organization of individual nanomoieties (with nanoscale spatial control), and
their selective immobilisation on surfaces for single-molecule investigations. In
particular, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), fluorescence molecules, linear small
peptides, and structural proteins were tethered with single-molecule accuracy on DNA
origami; their subsequent organization in array configuration on nanopatterned surfaces
allowed us to fabricate and test different platforms for single-molecule studies.
In particular, we developed a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) nanofabrication strategy
and demonstrated its general applicability for the assembly of functionalised DNA
nanostructures in highly uniform nanoarrays, with single-molecule control. In addition,
we further explored this nanofabricated platform for biological investigations at the
single-molecule level, from protein-DNA interactions to cancer cell adhesion studies
with single-molecule control. Investigations have been carried out via fluorescence | en_US |
