Hierarchical assembly is more robust than egalitarian assembly in synthetic capsids.

ABSTRACT: Self-assembly of complex and functional materials remains a grand challenge in soft material science. Efficient assembly depends on a delicate balance between thermodynamic and kinetic effects, requiring fine-tuning affinities and concentrations of subunits. By contrast, we introduce an assembly paradigm that allows large error-tolerance in the subunit affinity and helps avoid kinetic traps. Our combined experimental and computational approach uses a model system of triangular subunits programmed to assemble into T = 3 icosahedral capsids comprising 60 units. The experimental platform uses DNA origami to create monodisperse colloids whose three-dimensional geometry is controlled to nanometer precision, with two distinct bonds whose affinities are controlled to k_B

SUBMITTER: Wei WS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10873614 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature