Abstract

A fast emerging technology in the microelectronics field is bottom-up self-assembly of computer circuitry. A promising method to develop nanoelectronic devices through bottom-up self-assembly is the implementation of DNA-based technologies. Using DNA to create nanoelectronic devices is advantageous because of its already well understood base-paring and annealing qualities. These base-pairing and annealing qualities can be used to design and construct DNA nanostructures called DNA origami. DNA origami are specially designed structures made from single stranded DNA. Short single stranded DNA oligonucleotides called staple strands attach to a large single stranded DNA called a DNA scaffold. DNA staple strands and DNA scaffold anneal to each other and fold into DNA origami. Constructing DNA origami is advantageous because structures can be made in a single folding step. In particular, bar-shaped DNA origami has proven to be a promising structure for nanoelectronics fabrication. Here, I present new research done to improve bar-shaped DNA origami design and fabrication for constructing bottom-up self-assembled templates for nanomaterial surface attachment. Furthermore, this work presents new methods for DNA origami agarose gel purification with the help of the DNA stabilizing molecule, 4'-aminomethyltrioxsalen (AMT). AMT is a photoreactive molecule that intercalates DNA and creates covalent crosslinks when irradiated by short wavelength ultraviolet light. Also, this work contains new research on a synthesized crosslinker and its role with AMT in nanoparticle surface seeding on DNA origami nanowire templates. Through its crosslinking properties, AMT serves as a DNA origami stabilizing molecule and also shows potential for seeding nanomaterials.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Chemistry and Biochemistry

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2015-07-01

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd8044

Keywords

DNA origami, stabilization, gel extraction, AMT

Language

english

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