2019, Huo, Shuaidong, Li, Hongyan, Boersma, Arnold J., Herrmann, Andreas

DNA is more than a carrier of genetic information: It is a highly versatile structural motif for the assembly of nanostructures, giving rise to a wide range of functionalities. In this regard, the structure programmability is the main advantage of DNA over peptides, proteins, and small molecules. DNA amphiphiles, in which DNA is covalently bound to synthetic hydrophobic moieties, allow interactions of DNA nanostructures with artificial lipid bilayers and cell membranes. These structures have seen rapid growth with great potential for medical applications. In this Review, the current state of the art of the synthesis of DNA amphiphiles and their assembly into nanostructures are first summarized. Next, an overview on the interaction of these DNA amphiphiles with membranes is provided, detailing on the driving forces and the stability of the interaction. Moreover, the interaction with cell surfaces in respect to therapeutics, biological sensing, and cell membrane engineering is highlighted. Finally, the challenges and an outlook on this promising class of DNA hybrid materials are discussed.

2019, Wang, Ning, Zeisberger, Matthias, Hübner, Uwe, Giannini, Vincenzo, Schmidt, Markus A.

Due to unique properties and great design flexibilities, Fano resonances represent one of the most promising optical features mediated by metallic nanostructures, while the excitation of some Fano modes is impossible due to symmetry reasons. The aim of this work is to show that dense lattice arrangements can have a profound impact on the optical properties of nanostructures and, in particular, can enable the excitation of otherwise dark modes. Here, we demonstrate this concept using the example of rectangular arrays of symmetric trimers packed so densely that the coupling between neighbouring unit cells imposes a symmetry break, enabling the excitation of magnetic Fano resonances. We found that in experiments as well as in simulations, electric and magnetic Fano resonances can be simultaneously formed in cases where the inter-trimer distances are sufficiently small. By analysing the transition from an isolated trimer mode into a regime of strong near-field coupling, we show that by modifying the rectangular unit cell lengths due to the symmetry mismatch between lattice and trimer, two types of Fano resonances can be found, especially magnetic Fano resonances with loop-type magnetic field distributions within the centre of each trimer, which can be either enhanced or suppressed. In addition, the influence of the refractive index environment was measured, showing sensitivity values of approximately 300 nm/RIU. Our work provides fundamental insights into the interaction of the lattice and nanostructure response and paves the way towards the observation of novel optical excitations.