Direct Visualization of Conformation and Dense Packing of DNA-Based Soft Colloids

Zhang, Jing; Lettinga, M.P.; Dhont, Jan K.G.; Stiakakis, Emmanuel

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.268303

Journal Article

FZJ-2015-01103

Direct Visualization of Conformation and Dense Packing of DNA-Based Soft Colloids

Zhang, J. (Corresponding Author)FZJ* ; Lettinga, M. P.FZJ* ; Dhont, J. K. G.FZJ* ; Stiakakis, E.FZJ*

2014
APS College Park, Md.

Physical review letters 113(26), 268303 (2014) [10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.268303]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/8384 doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.268303

Abstract: Soft colloids—such as polymer-coated particles, star polymers, block-copolymer micelles, microgels—constitute a broad class of materials where microscopic properties such as deformability and penetrability of the particle play a key role in tailoring their macroscopic properties which is of interest in many technological areas. The ability to access these microscopic properties is not yet demonstrated despite its great importance. Here we introduce novel DNA-coated colloids with star-shaped architecture that allows accessing the above local structural information by directly visualizing their intramolecular monomer density profile and arm’s free-end locations with confocal fluorescent microscopy. Compression experiments on a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice formed by these macromolecular assemblies reveal an exceptional resistance to mutual interpenetration of their charged corona at pressures approaching the MPa range. Furthermore, we find that this lattice, in a close packing configuration, is surprisingly tolerant to particle size variation. We anticipate that these stimuli-responsive materials could aid to get deeper insight in a wide range of problems in soft matter, including the study and design of biomimetic lubricated surfaces.

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