Towards an Increase of the Hierarchy in the Construction of DNA-Based Nanostructures Through the Integration of Inorganic Materials

Hierarchical self-assembly is nature’s solution to the build up of complex structures starting from components that are orders of magnitude smaller [4]. The components are brought together in a precisely defined way by recognition processes based on non-covalent interactions. This offers the possibility for error correction through a continuous sequence of trial and error steps to optimize functionality. Under a set of hierarchical assembly nstructions, the functional aggregates produced at each level are the building blocks for the self-assembly at the next higher level of complexity. The information needed for the formation of the resulting structures is encoded within the covalent structure of the subunits. This integration of components over disparate length scales might include inorganic matter. The inorganic matter can be a surface upon which the assembled organic structure is transferred from a 3D to a quasi-2D space. This could lead to functional nanodevices with properties that do not exist, not only in the individual components but also in the organic assembled structure alone.