### Session Q18: Focus Session: Biological-Synthetic Hybrid Materials II

11:15 AM–2:15 PM, Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Room: B117

Chair: Oleg Gang, Brookhaven National Laboratory

Abstract ID: BAPS.2010.MAR.Q18.3

### Abstract: Q18.00003 : Energy Landscapes of Small, Fixed Numbers of DNA-coated Colloids

11:39 AM–11:51 AM

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#### Authors:

Jesse Collins
(Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS))

Vinothan Manoharan
(Harvard Physics and SEAS)

We experimentally investigate clustering of small numbers of colloidal spheres with short-range attraction via surface-grafted DNA-DNA molecular recognition. We coat 1 micron diameter spheres with 20nm long DNA strands; particles with different surface-bound DNA sequences represent different particle types.'' Pairwise interactions between some types are attractive but interactions between other types are purely repulsive. In a typical experiment, 6 total particles of 3 different types explore a volume less than 100 picoliters and assemble into equilibrium clusters. We optically characterize the structures and compare ensemble averages with statistical mechanical predictions.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2010.MAR.Q18.3