DNA Gold Nanoparticle Motors Demonstrate Processive Motion with Bursts of Speed Up to 50 nm Per Second

ACS Nano 2021, 15(5), 8427–8438. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10683

Abstract

Synthetic motors that convert chemical energy into mechanical work hold promise for applications ranging from computing to drug delivery. DNA-based motors are particularly promising due to their programmability and autonomous motion through burnt-bridge Brownian ratchet mechanisms. Here, we use DNA-gold nanoparticle conjugates to investigate and enhance nanomotor performance by tuning DNA leg density, leg span, nanoparticle anisotropy, and buffer conditions. Modeling and experiments reveal that increased leg density boosts speed and processivity, while leg span improves directionality. Label-free imaging revealed Lévy-type motion characterized by bursts of translocation interspersed with stalling. Dimerized particles demonstrated more ballistic movement, supporting a rolling mechanism. Our optimized motors reach speeds up to 50 nm/s, approaching those of biological motor proteins.

For citation:
Bazrafshan, A.; Kyriazi, M.E.; Holt, B. A.; Deng, W.; Piranej, S.; Su, H.; Hu, Y.; El-Sagheer, A. H.; Brown, T.; Kwong, G. A.; Kanaras, A. G.; Salaita, K.
"DNA Gold Nanoparticle Motors Demonstrate Processive Motion with Bursts of Speed Up to 50 nm Per Second"
ACS Nano 2021, 15(5), 8427–8438. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10683