Charge Transport within
a Three-Dimensional DNA Nanostructure
Framework
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Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) DNA nanostructures have shown
great promise
for various applications including molecular sensing and therapeutics.
Here we report kinetic studies of DNA-mediated charge transport (CT)
within a 3D DNA nanostructure framework. A tetrahedral DNA nanostructure
was used to investigate the through-duplex and through-space CT of
small redox molecules (methylene blue (MB) and ferrocene (Fc)) that
were bound to specific positions above the surface of the gold electrode.
CT rate measurements provide unambiguous evidence that the intercalative
MB probe undergoes efficient mediated CT over longer distances along
the duplex, whereas the nonintercalative Fc probe tunnels electrons
through the space. This study sheds new light on DNA-based molecular
electronics and on designing high-performance biosensor devices