Cost effective surface functionalization of gold nanoparticles with a mixed DNA and PEG monolayer for nanotechnology applications

Abstract

A cost effective and generally applicable co-functionalization of gold nanoparticles with a mixed DNA and PEG polymers is reported. Compared to the pure DNA functionalization method, this protocol uses a much smaller amount of thiol-DNA to achieve a similar binding efficacy of gold nanoparticles with DNA origami nanostructures. The lower consumption of DNA provides a scaling-up potential for the application of DNA–nanoparticle conjugates in nanotechnology.