4289
Self-Assembling, conductive DNA molecules which enable easy manufacture of DNA-based circuits and electrical devices
Porath Danny, HUJI, Faculty of Science, The Institute of Chemistry
Background
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Micro- and nano-electronics underpin a significant part of the global economy. The global turnover of the sector was $310 billion in 2012. The value of products comprising micro- and nanoelectronics components represents around $215 billion of value globally.
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Transparency Market Research reports a projected growth in the global nano-sensors market from US$26.9 million in 2014 to exceeding US$1.5 billion by 2021. While there are several existing and emerging uses of nano-sensors, with healthcare and biomedical being the most remunerative, these miniature devices are also seeing an escalating use in military and homeland security applications. However, the mass-production of nanowire sensors is still regarded as being difficult because there is a dearth of equipment that can precisely and rapidly assemble these extremely tiny wires on a given surface.
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Since DNA molecules have the ability to self-assemble into two- and three-dimensional nanoarchitectures, an ability to conduct electricity would make them a tempting target for the production of DNA-based circuits and electrical devices.
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Conductivity of double stranded DNA is very low, especially when the molecules are deposited on hard surfaces.
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There is a need for a process to precisely and rapidly assemble extremely tiny, conductive nanowires on a given surface.There is a need for a process to precisely and rapidly assemble extremely tiny, conductive nanowires
Our Innovation
Hybrid nucleic acid-metal complex with the ability to conduct electricity (E-DNA):
The process is selective to poly(dG)-poly(dC) and is not active on random or poly(dA)-poly(dT) sequences. This paves the way to combining conductive segments with connecting segments to form programmable circuits.
The metallization process is simple and low-cost and it is performed at ambient temperatures.
Metalized hybrid DNA molecules can conduct electrical current and may be used as nanowires in nanoelectronic devices and DNA-based programmable circuits.
Metal atoms positioned along the DNA molecules improve the charge transport properties, producing an attractive candidate for nanoelectronics.
(A) Tentative scheme of E-DNA formation, (B) AFM imaging of an intermediate stage of E-DNA formation
Development Milestones
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Further optimization of the metallization process and its reproducibility, including avoiding possible defects
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Development of additional metallization schemes
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Electrical transport measurements
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Combination of metalized segments in multiple DNA constructions
Patent Status
Published US 2019/0106453 A1
