DNA-Directed Assembly of Nanophase Materials: An Updated Review - DNA Nanotechnology: From Structure to Function - page 159

Fig. 8.3 Encapsulation of a gold nanoparticle into the cavity of an open-cage DNA origami,
followed by site-specific decorations of gold nanoparticles on selected outer facets of the DNA
origami (Copyright (2011) Wiley. Used with permission from Ref. [ 35 ])

8.3.2 DNA Origami-Directed Anisotropic

Nanoparticle Assembly

DNA origami represents the latest development in structural DNA nanotechnology
which is able to create a DNA framework with virtually arbitrary geometrical
complexity [ 33 ]. The only constraint comes from the finite length of the single-
stranded DNA scaffold currently from the M13 virus genome, which sets an upper
size (or molecular weight) limit for the structures built by DNA origami [ 34 ]. One
important feature of a DNA origami-based structure (often called a DNA origami)
lies in its high surface addressability benefiting from the hundreds of staple strands
(each having a unique sequence) that help the folding of the long circular M13
genome into a desired shape.
Yan et al. showed that an open-cage DNA origami with a hollow interior could
be employed to encapsulate a gold nanoparticle so that the spherical symmetry
of the nanoparticle's original DNA decoration could be broken [ 35 ](Fig. 8.3 ).