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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Optical Responses Controlled by DNA Assembly

Objective

Artificially constructed materials can be designed to shape the propagation of light and can thus exhibit optical characteristics that are not found in nature. With such metamaterials, remarkable optical applications such as cloaking of objects, sensing of molecular environments or the fabrication of perfect lenses that are not bound by optical resolution limits could be realised. However, for metamaterials to operate at visible wavelengths they have to be structured in three dimensions with nanometre precision which currently poses an enormous barrier to their fabrication. By using molecular self-assembly based on the self-recognizing properties of sequence-programmable DNA strands, this barrier will be overcome. After having pioneered the 3D DNA origami method and the creation of DNA-based metamaterials, I propose the following new paths of research:
i) Metamaterials that are switchable in electric or magnetic fields and operate at visible or near infrared wavelengths will be designed and produced by DNA self-assembly for the first time. The hypothesis that materials with strong chirality show negative refraction will be tested and optical resonators with dimensions below 100 nm will be generated.
ii) The light-shaping characteristics of metal particle helices will be used to detect organic molecules. As most organic molecules are chiral and can be considered as chiral arrangements of multiple dipole elements, it is expected that the organic dipoles couple to the plasmonic dipoles of the metal helices. This in turn will induce changes in the optical activity of the material. In a parallel approach, organic molecules will be used to induce conformational changes in DNA-supported particle assemblies, which will then be detected in their optical response. Both of these fundamentally new detection schemes will allow extremely sensitive detection of biomolecules at visible wavelengths.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

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ERC-2013-StG
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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN
EU contribution
€ 1 433 840,00
Address
GESCHWISTER SCHOLL PLATZ 1
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany

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Region
Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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Beneficiaries (1)

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