Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Effect of different cations on controlling the orientation of chiral double-L DNA origami on solid substrate
The ability to precisely control DNA origami orientation holds immense potential for a wide range of applications.1 This includes the development of advanced metamaterials, highly sensitive chiral sensing platforms, high-density data storage devices, and sophisticated drug delivery systems. Any method to achieve DNA origami orientation control is therefore attractive for both fundamental research and technological innovation. This presentation explains the simple yet powerful approach to control the orientation of DNA origami nanostructures upon deposition on solid substrate. By varying the Mg2+ concentration of the buffer solution,2 we demonstrate the ability to control the orientation of a chiral 2D DNA origami shape on the mica surface (Figure 1). A chiral double-L (CDL) DNA origami structure was used that can adopt either an S or Z orientation upon adsorption. CDL adsorption on mica was probed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), both for dried samples as well as at the liquid-solid interface. Distributions of S and Z orientations are shown to depend dramatically on the Mg2+ concentration, ranging from randomly oriented CDLs to exclusive S. The results are explained by considering Mg2+ induced conformational transitions in the 3D shape of the 2D CDL DNA origami. In the second part of the presentation, the influence of different cations such as Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ on S or Z orientation will be discussed.
Presented by
Gangamallaiah Velpula, KU Leuven
Effect of different cations on controlling the orientation of chiral double-L DNA origami on solid substrate
The ability to precisely control DNA origami orientation holds immense potential for a wide range of applications.1 This includes the development of advanced metamaterials, highly sensitive chiral sensing platforms, high-density data storage devices, and sophisticated drug delivery systems. Any method to achieve DNA origami orientation control is therefore attractive for both fundamental research and technological innovation. This presentation explains the simple yet powerful approach to control the orientation of DNA origami nanostructures upon deposition on solid substrate. By varying the Mg2+ concentration of the buffer solution,2 we demonstrate the ability to control the orientation of a chiral 2D DNA origami shape on the mica surface (Figure 1). A chiral double-L (CDL) DNA origami structure was used that can adopt either an S or Z orientation upon adsorption. CDL adsorption on mica was probed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), both for dried samples as well as at the liquid-solid interface. Distributions of S and Z orientations are shown to depend dramatically on the Mg2+ concentration, ranging from randomly oriented CDLs to exclusive S. The results are explained by considering Mg2+ induced conformational transitions in the 3D shape of the 2D CDL DNA origami. In the second part of the presentation, the influence of different cations such as Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ on S or Z orientation will be discussed.
Presented by
Gangamallaiah Velpula, KU Leuven
