Synthesis of doped ZnS one-dimensional nanostructures via chemical vapor deposition

ZnS one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures doped with Mn or Cd have been rapidly synthesized in large scale via a chemical vapor deposition process. Using Zn and S as precursors and MnCl₂ or Cd as doping source, the doped ZnS 1D nanostructures were obtained. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to characterize the as-synthesized ZnS nanostructures. The catalytically grown ZnS 1D nanostructures, including nanowires and nanoribbons, are tens of micrometers in length. All the products are wurtzite ZnS in structure and preferentially grow along the [001] direction. The room temperature photoluminescence properties of these doped ZnS nanostructures are presented.     

Fabrication of multiplex quasi-three-dimensional grids of one-dimensional nanostructures via stepwise colloidal lithography

By using O2-plasma etched monolayers of hexagonally close-packed latex spheres as masks for metal vapor deposition, we successfully demonstrate a stepwise colloidal lithography to stepwise grow highly ordered multiplex quasi-three-dimensional grids of metallic one-dimensional nanostructures, e.g., nanowires and nanorods. The success of the present approach is centered at manipulation of the incidence angle of metal vapor beams with respect to the normal direction of colloidal masks and particularly the azimuth angle phi of the projection of the vapor beam incidence on the masks with respect to the vector from one sphere to the nearest neighbors. Stepwise deposition of different metals by regularly varying phi allows consecutively stacking of 1D nanostructures into multiplex quasi-3D grids. This stepwise angle-resolved colloidal lithography should provide a significant nanochemical complement of conventional lithographic techniques, enabling us to easily fabricate sophisticated 3D nanostructures with defined vertical and lateral heterogeneity.     

Design, assembly, and activity of antisense DNA nanostructures

Discrete DNA nanostructures allow simultaneous features not possible with traditional DNA forms: encapsulation of cargo, display of multiple ligands, and resistance to enzymatic digestion. These properties suggested using DNA nanostructures as a delivery platform. Here, DNA pyramids displaying antisense motifs are shown to be able to specifically degrade mRNA and inhibit protein expression in vitro, and they show improved cell uptake and gene silencing when compared to linear DNA. Furthermore, the activity of these pyramids can be regulated by the introduction of an appropriate complementary strand. These results highlight the versatility of DNA nanostructures as functional devices.     

Self-assembled DNA nanostructures for distance-dependent multivalent ligand-protein binding

An important goal of nanotechnology is to assemble multiple molecules while controlling the spacing between them. Of particular interest is the phenomenon of multivalency, which is characterized by simultaneous binding of multiple ligands on one biological entity to multiple receptors on another. Various approaches have been developed to engineer multivalency by linking multiple ligands together. However, the effects of well-controlled inter-ligand distances on multivalency are less well understood. Recent progress in self-assembling DNA nanostructures with spatial and sequence addressability has made deterministic positioning of different molecular species possible. Here we show that distance-dependent multivalent binding effects can be systematically investigated by incorporating multiple-affinity ligands into DNA nanostructures with precise nanometre spatial control. Using atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate direct visualization of high-affinity bivalent ligands being used as pincers to capture and display protein molecules on a nanoarray. These results illustrate the potential of using designer DNA nanoscaffolds to engineer more complex and interactive biomolecular networks.     

Growth of one-dimensional polyindole nanostructures

One-dimensional (1D) nanostructured polyindole (Nano-Pind) was synthesized with 10 minutes (Pind-10 m) and 24 hours (Pind-24 h) of polymerization time using a facile chemical oxidative polymerization method. The obtained Nano-Pinds were explored to study the differences in their structural, optical, spectral and conducting properties with regard to the variation in polymerization duration. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) reveal formation of long and smooth surfaced 1D nanostructures of Pind with diameter of approximately 25-125 nm and lengths of several microns. Structural chemical analysis of the Nano-Pinds conducted by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Fluorescence spectroscopic measurements support their formations, thereby indicating Pind-24 h to exhibit sharper and far better resolved spectral profile than that of Pind-10 m. The Nano-Pinds exhibit good blue-light emitting property, and improved Electrical Conductivity (EC) than earlier reported globular Pinds, suggesting their potential applications in nanotechnology, especially in the field of optoelectronics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on 1D nanostructures of Pind.     

A DNA nanostructure platform for directed assembly of synthetic vaccines

Safe and effective vaccines offer the best intervention for disease control. One strategy to maximize vaccine immunogenicity without compromising safety is to rationally design molecular complexes that mimic the natural structure of immunogenic microbes but without the disease-causing components. Here we use highly programmable DNA nanostructures as platforms to assemble a model antigen and CpG adjuvants together into nanoscale complexes with precise control of the valency and spatial arrangement of each element. Our results from immunized mice show that compared to a mixture of antigen and CpG molecules, the assembled antigen-adjuvant-DNA complexes induce strong and long-lasting antibody responses against the antigen without stimulating a reaction to the DNA nanostructure itself. This result demonstrates the potential of DNA nanostructures to serve as general platforms for the rational design and construction of a variety of vaccines.     

Biological and chemical decoration of peptide nanostructures via biotin-avidin interactions

Novel architectures with nanometric dimensions hold an immense promise as building blocks for future nanotechnological applications. Biological nanostructures are of special interest due to their biocompatibility and because they allow the utilization of biochemical recognition interfaces. The ability to decorate bio-nanostructures with functional groups is highly important in order to utilize them in several applications including ultrasensitive sensors, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering. Peptide-based nanostructures have a distinct advantage over other assemblies because they can be easily modified with chemical and biological elements. Aromatic dipeptide nanotubes (ADNT) are formed by the self-assembly of a very simple building block, the diphenylalanine peptide. These nanotubes have remarkable chemical and mechanical properties and their utilization in various applications has previously been demonstrated. Here we report on the chemical modification of ADNT with biotin moieties, in order to enable the selective decoration of the tubes with avidin-labeled species. First, ADNT were prepared in aqueous solution by self-assembly of the dipeptide building blocks. Next, they were modified using N-hydroxysuccinimido-biotin. The level of biotinylation was assessed by the interaction of the tubes with gold-labeled strepavidin and ultrastructural analysis by electron microscopy. The ability of the modified assemblies to serve as a generic functional platform was demonstrated by avidin-mediated conjugation. Avidin was added as a molecular linker to allow the decoration with biotin-labeled quantum dots. The efficient decoration was again probed by the imaging of the modified tubes using laser confocal microscopy. Taken together, we demonstrated the ability to decorate ADNT using a generic avidin-biotin adaptor. This decoration should lead to the integration and utilization of the tubes in various applications.     

Synthesis of platinum dendrites and nanowires via directed electrochemical nanowire assembly

Directed electrochemical nanowire assembly is a promising high growth rate technique for synthesizing electrically connected nanowires and dendrites at desired locations. Here we demonstrate the directed growth and morphological control of edge-supported platinum nanostructures by applying an alternating electric field across a chloroplatinic acid solution. The dendrite structure is characterized with respect to the driving frequency, amplitude, offset, and salt concentration and is well-explained by classical models. Control over the tip diameter, side branch spacing, and amplitude is demonstrated, opening the door to novel device architectures for sensing and catalytic applications.     

Synthesis of one-dimensional sodium titanate nanostructures

We synthesized sodium titanate nanotubes and nanowires using TiB2 and TIN as the starting materials, respectively in a hydrothermal process. The experimental results indicate that the reaction temperature influences the morphology of the product significantly. The nanowires were formed above 170 degrees C. Nanotubes were obtained below 140 degrees C. The synthesized nanotubes exhibit a crystallized multi-wall structure. The inner diameter was found to be ca. 5 nm. The diameter of the nanowires was found to be ca. 50 nm. The characteristic lengths was in the order of tens micrometers.     

掺杂氧化锌一维纳米结构的研究进展

氧化锌（ZnO）纳米结构的形态是已知纳米结构中最为多样的多功能材料之一，由于一维ZnO纳米结构在电子与光电子装置中如表面声波、光子晶体、光发射二极管、光电探测器、紫外激光器、生物／化学传感器、场效应晶体管等诸多领域均展现出其独特的物理化学性能，已经引起人们的极大研究热情．而选择不同元素掺杂为调节其电、光和磁性质提供了一种有效方法，对实际应用至关重要，因此一维纳米结构的掺杂日益成为研究和应用的焦点。按照掺杂方法和掺杂元素的不同，对目前ZnO一维纳米结构的掺杂进展进行了回顾，提出了掺杂工艺中存在的问题，并对其发展趋势及前景进行了展望。     

The role of defects on the assembly and stability of DNA nanostructures

Defects are known to underlie the mechanical properties of materials, especially so at the nanoscale. Using four compositionally identical DNA triangles, defect density is found to be inversely correlated with assembly efficiency and melting temperature. These findings are supported by a series of experiments with more complex DNA pyramids. Because they are naturally responsive to stresses, defects present an attractive opportunity as design elements for responsive DNA materials.     

溶液生长ZnO一维纳米阵列及其复合纳米结构的研究进展

对溶液生长ZnO一维纳米阵列的研究进展进行了评述,分析了晶种制备和溶液生长过程中各工艺因素对阵列微观形貌的影响,并介绍了在溶液中通过控制定点成核并利用有机基团调控ZnO晶体生长习性的合成路线用于构筑ZnO复合纳米结构的最新研究,指出了溶液生长ZnO一维纳米阵列和构筑复合结构中存在的问题及今后的研究方向.     

Towards pick-and-place assembly of nanostructures

We examine an approach to three-dimensional pick-and-place assembly of wire-like nanoscale components, such as carbon nanotubes and silicon nanowires, on microstructures inside a scanning electron microscope. In this article we demonstrate that microfabricated electrostatically acutuated tweezers can pick up silicon nanowires and show how electron beam deposition of carbon residues can be used to assemble carbon nanotubes on microelectrodes.     

Inorganic template directed assembly of dendritic LDH nanostructures and their properties of morphological preservation and facile exfoliation

We report a novel approach to assembling layered double hydroxide (LDH) into uniform dendritic nanostructures, called nanotrees, in bulk aqueous solution. The key factor of this method lies in the use of inorganic iron hydroxide colloid (IHC), acting as templates to stabilize the LDH layers and gluing them into nanotrees. In this approach, traditional organic templates, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate and urea, are completely avoided. The obtained LDH nanotrees readily show exfoliation properties and can be completely delaminated after modification with silane.     

Synthesis and characterization of one-dimensional MgO nanostructures

Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanowire arrays, nanoribbons, two- and three-dimensional network like nanostructures were prepared by the simple thermal evaporation of Mg powder with and without using catalyst at a relatively low temperature. The non-catalytic approaches favor the formation of network like nanoforms whereas the catalytic approaches favors the formation of one-dimensional nanowire arrays and quasi one-dimensional nanoribbons depending on the temperature and vapor concentrations of the growth site. The diameter and length of the MgO network like columns varied within 40-50 nm and approximately 200 nm respectively. The MgO nanowires produced by the catalytic approach had diameter within 20-30 nm and length approximately 2 microm. Whereas the widths of the nanoribbons varied within 50-100 nm and their length were of the order of a few hundred micrometers. The nanoforms were single crystalline and cubic in phase. The products were characterized by the X-ray diffraction study, energy dispersive analysis of X-ray study, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence measurements to explore the structural, compositional, morphological, and physical properties of the MgO nanoforms.     

Meta-DNA: synthetic biology via DNA nanostructures and hybridization reactions

Can a wide range of complex biochemical behaviour arise from repeated applications of a highly reduced class of interactions? In particular, can the range of DNA manipulations achieved by protein enzymes be simulated via simple DNA hybridization chemistry? In this work, we develop a biochemical system which we call meta-DNA (abbreviated as mDNA), based on strands of DNA as the only component molecules. Various enzymatic manipulations of these mDNA molecules are simulated via toehold-mediated DNA strand displacement reactions. We provide a formal model to describe the required properties and operations of our mDNA, and show that our proposed DNA nanostructures and hybridization reactions provide these properties and functionality. Our meta-nucleotides are designed to form flexible linear assemblies (single-stranded mDNA (ssmDNA)) analogous to single-stranded DNA. We describe various isothermal hybridization reactions that manipulate our mDNA in powerful ways analogous to DNA–DNA reactions and the action of various enzymes on DNA. These operations on mDNA include (i) hybridization of ssmDNA into a double-stranded mDNA (dsmDNA) and heat denaturation of a dsmDNA into its component ssmDNA, (ii) strand displacement of one ssmDNA by another, (iii) restriction cuts on the backbones of ssmDNA and dsmDNA, (iv) polymerization reactions that extend ssmDNA on a template to form a complete dsmDNA, (v) synthesis of mDNA sequences via mDNA polymerase chain reaction, (vi) isothermal denaturation of a dsmDNA into its component ssmDNA, and (vii) an isothermal replicator reaction that exponentially amplifies ssmDNA strands and may be modified to allow for mutations.     

Self-assembly nanostructures of one-dimensional antimony oxide and oxychloride

This paper reports a facile solution route (water bath heating or hydrothermal heating) for synthesizing a few Sb-based self-assembly structures including bundles of nanowires, nanowire-flowers, long nanowires, bundles of flakes, nanobelts, hollow prisms. These obtained nanomaterials were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, SAED, and HRTEM. It was found that the morphology, size and phase of self-assembly nanostructures were strongly dependent on reaction temperature, reaction time, pH value, and heating source. In particular, nanowire-flowers and hollow prisms of antimony oxide or oxychloride have not been reported previously. A possible mechanism based on stepwise nucleation and aggregation of nanowires or flakes was also proposed.     

Template and template-free preparation of one-dimensional metallic nanostructures

In this article, we have studied and developed two approaches for organizing metallic nanoparticles into one-dimensional assemblies. The first uses DNA as a ‘template’ and allows the preparation of various silver nanostructures (‘beads-on-a-string’ or rod-like wires). The conductance of such nanostructures was demonstrated by employing a powerful technique, Electrostatic Force Microscopy (EFM). This technique gave us ‘contactless’ information about the electrical properties of silver nanostructures, aligned on a SiO₂/Si surface. Additionally, I–V characteristics of a single silver nanowire crossing two microelectrodes were recorded. The nanowire resistivity was estimated at 1.46 × 10⁻⁷ Ω m (at 300 K), which is one order of magnitude higher than that of bulk silver (1.6 × 10⁻⁸ Ω m). The second approach is a ‘template-free’ one, and exploits the binding ability of l-arginine, which favours the self-assembling of capped gold nanoparticles into gold nanochains. The results suggest that gold nanochains were formed due to dipole–dipole interaction between adjacent nanoparticles, which fuse together through an oriented attachment mechanism. Atomic force microscopy, TEM, UV–vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the morphological, optical and structural properties of these metallic nanostructures.