Open Access

ARTICLE

Structural and Tensile Properties of Self-Assembled DNA Network on Mica Surface

Itsuo Hanasaki, Hirofumi Shintaku, Satoshi Matsunami, Satoyuki Kawano¹

1 Department of Mechanical Science and Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Machikaneyama-cho 1-3, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2009, 46(2), 191-208. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmes.2009.046.191

Abstract

Self-assembly is one of the physical phenomena that are promising for the manufacturing process of the devices on which DNA molecules are mounted as the components. We have conducted a structural study of self-assembled poly(dA)\discretionary poly(dT) DNA networks on mica surface to discuss the design requirements. The results indicate that the network formation process consists of the adsorption and the subsequent coarsening. The final form of the component filaments are roughly straight. These characteristics imply the possible tensile loads during the network formation. Therefore, we have conducted molecular dynamics simulations of tensile tests of a short DNA fragment to elucidate the relevant mechanical properties. The effective tensile properties strongly depend on the loading condition of the clamp, which can affect the functionality of the molecules.

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