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. 2006 Dec 15;78(24):8313-8.
doi: 10.1021/ac0613582.

Maximizing DNA loading on a range of gold nanoparticle sizes

Sarah J Hurst  1 , Abigail K R Lytton-Jean, Chad A Mirkin
Affiliations

Maximizing DNA loading on a range of gold nanoparticle sizes

Sarah J Hurst et al. Anal Chem. .

Abstract

We have investigated the variables that influence DNA coverage on gold nanoparticles. The effects of salt concentration, spacer composition, nanoparticle size, and degree of sonication have been evaluated. Maximum loading was obtained by salt aging the nanoparticles to approximately 0.7 M NaCl in the presence of DNA containing a poly(ethylene glycol) spacer. In addition, DNA loading was substantially increased by sonicating the nanoparticles during the surface loading process. Last, nanoparticles up to 250 nm in diameter were found have approximately 2 orders of magnitude higher DNA loading than smaller (13-30 nm) nanoparticles, a consequence of their larger surface area. Stable large particles are attractive for a variety of biodiagnostic assays.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
DNA loading (# DNA strands/nanoparticle) vs. NaCl concentration for A10, T10, and PEG spacers on 15 nm gold nanoparticles.
Figure 2
Figure 2
DNA loading values at 1.0 M NaCl, with and without sonication, as a function of spacer for 15, 30, 50, 80, 150, and 250 nm gold nanoparticles.
Figure 3
Figure 3
DNA loading as a function of nanoparticle size at 1.0 M NaCl for DNA containing an A10, T10, or PEG spacer. The dashed line shows the theoretical values of DNA loading assuming a density fixed to that of a 15 nm nanoparticle.
Scheme 1
Scheme 1
DNA loading on Au nanoparticles and quantification of surface coverage.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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