Nanoparticles having predetermined shapes

Abstract

Articles and methods for forming nanostructures having unique and/or predetermined shapes are provided. The methods and articles may involve the use of nucleic acid containers as structural molds. For instance, a pre-designed nucleic acid container including a cavity may be used to control the shape-specific growth of nanoparticles. Growth of the nanoparticles within the cavities may be confined by the specific shape of the nucleic acid container. In some embodiments, the resulting nucleic acid-nanoparticle structures can be used to control the orientation and numbers of surface ligands on the surface of nanoparticles. The addressability of the surface ligands can be used to form higher ordered assemblies of the structures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An article comprising:
 a nanoparticle positioned inside a nucleic acid container having a predetermined three-dimensional structure, wherein the nanoparticle comprises at least one surface portion having a shape that is complementary at the sub-nanometer level to a shape of an inner surface portion of the nucleic acid container.   
     
     
         3 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An article comprising:
 an inorganic nanoparticle comprising an isolated nucleic acid strand attached to a surface of the inorganic nanoparticle, wherein the inorganic nanoparticle has a non-spherical shape.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . An article comprising:
 an inorganic nanoparticle coated with a nucleic acid container, wherein the nucleic acid container comprises pores; and   a nucleic acid strand attached to a surface of the inorganic nanoparticle, and extending from the surface of the inorganic nanoparticle, through a pore of the nucleic acid container.   
     
     
         9 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle has a shape that is complementary to a shape of the inner surfaces of the nucleic acid container. 
     
     
         24 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is formed from a template-assisted synthesis inside the nucleic acid container. 
     
     
         25 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle has a three-dimensional shape that includes at least 4 different sides. 
     
     
         26 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle comprises a cross-section in the shape of a rectangle, rod, T, L, branched structure, diamond, star, square, parallelogram, triangle, pentagon, or hexagon. 
     
     
         27 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is in the shape of a polyhedron. 
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is an inorganic nanoparticle. 
     
     
         31 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle comprises a metal. 
     
     
         32 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is an alloy. 
     
     
         33 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle comprises a semiconductor. 
     
     
         34 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         35 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle has at least one cross-sectional dimension that is less than or equal to 1 micron. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle has an aspect ratio of at least 2:1. 
     
     
         38 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle comprises an isolated nucleic acid strand comprising DNA and/or RNA attached to a surface of the nanoparticle. 
     
     
         42 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid container comprises a cavity having a volume, and at least 60% of the volume is filled with the nanoparticle. 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid container comprises a cavity in the shape of a polyhedron. 
     
     
         47 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid container comprises at least one lid that can be open or closed. 
     
     
         52 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid container comprises a cavity, and a cross-sectional dimension of the cavity is less than or equal to 1 micron. 
     
     
         53 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid container is formed of a nucleic acid having a molecular weight of at least 640 kDa. 
     
     
         58 - 77 . (canceled) 
     
     
         78 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle comprises a plurality of marker and binding site pairs, wherein each of the markers are different from one another, and each of the binding sites are different from one another. 
     
     
         79 - 97 . (canceled)