DNA折り紙のサイズ拡大と機能付与による疾患検出への応用

早大学位記番号:新7342早稲田大

Local structure of Liquid-Vapour Interfaces

The structure of a simple liquid may be characterised in terms of ground state clusters of small numbers of atoms of that same liquid. Here we use this sensitive structural probe to consider the effect of a liquid-vapour interface upon the liquid structure. At higher temperatures (above around half the critical temperature) we find that the predominant effect of the interface is to reduce the local density, which significantly suppresses the local cluster populations. At lower temperatures, however, pronounced interfacial layering is found. This appears to be connected with significant orientational ordering of clusters based on 3- and 5-membered rings, with the rings aligning perpendicular and parallel to the interface respectively. At all temperatures, we find that the population of five-fold symmetric structures is suppressed, rather than enhanced, close to the interface.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication by Molecular Physic

A DNA aptamer recognising a malaria protein biomarker can function as part of a DNA origami assembly

DNA aptamers have potential for disease diagnosis and as therapeutics, particularly when interfaced with programmable molecular technology. Here we have combined DNA aptamers specific for the malaria biomarker Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) with a DNA origami scaffold. Twelve aptamers that recognise PfLDH were integrated into a rectangular DNA origami and atomic force microscopy demonstrated that the incorporated aptamers preserve their ability to specifically bind target protein. Captured PfLDH retained enzymatic activity and protein-aptamer binding was observed dynamically using high-speed AFM. This work demonstrates the ability of DNA aptamers to recognise a malaria biomarker whilst being integrated within a supramolecular DNA scaffold, opening new possibilities for malaria diagnostic approaches based on DNA nanotechnology

Effect of PEGylation on Controllably Spaced Adsorption of Ferritin Molecules

The interparticle distance between nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed on on SiO₂ was shown to be controlled by PEGylation. Ferritins with nanoparticle cores were prepared and PEGylated with poly­(ethylene glycol)­s (PEGs) of two different molecular weights. It was shown that the thickness of the PEG layer on the ferritin surface determines the interparticle distance under short Debye lengths. Under conditions where the Debye length was greater than the PEG layer thickness, distance between ferritins increased due to the electrostatic repulsive force. Results suggest that the PEG layer accommodated a small amount of counterions insufficient to cancel the ferritin outer surface charges. Simulation showed that ferritins adsorbed randomly and interparticle distance can be predicted theoretically. We demonstrate that PEGylated ferritins, that is, NP cores, can be dispersed on a surface with interval distances between particles determined by the combination of the ionic strength of the solution and the molecular weight of the PEG