# US 11,896,943 B2 · Stabilized colloidal crystals and methods of stabilizing colloidal crystals

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- Number: US 11,896,943 B2
- Document ID: US11896943B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/882,002
- Filed: 2020-05-22
- Published: 2020-11-26
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-23
- Assignees: Northwestern University
- Applicants: Northwestern University
- Inventors: Chad A. Mirkin; Seungkyu Lee; Cindy Yizhe Zheng; Katherine E. Bujold
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896943B2

## CPC

- B01J 13/0043: {containing elemental metal (for medical or diagnostical purposes A61K, G01N)}
- B01J 13/18: In situ polymerisation with all reactants being present in the same phase
- C07H 1/00: Processes for the preparation of sugar derivatives
- C30B 29/58: Macromolecular compounds
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C07H: SUGARS; DERIVATIVES THEREOF; NUCLEOSIDES; NUCLEOTIDES; NUCLEIC ACIDS (derivatives of aldonic or saccharic acids C07C, C07D; aldonic acids, saccharic acids C07C59/105, C07C59/285; cyanohydrins C07C255/16; glycals C07D; compounds of unknown constitution C07G; polysaccharides, derivatives thereof C08B; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; sugar industry C13)
- C30B: SINGLE-CRYSTAL GROWTH (by using ultra-high pressure, e.g. for the formation of diamonds, B01J3/06); UNIDIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF EUTECTIC MATERIAL OR UNIDIRECTIONAL DEMIXING OF EUTECTOID MATERIAL; REFINING BY ZONE-MELTING OF MATERIAL (zone-refining of metals or alloys C22B); PRODUCTION OF A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE (casting of metals, casting of other substances by the same processes or devices B22D; working of plastics B29; modifying the physical structure of metals or alloys C21D, C22F); SINGLE CRYSTALS OR HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; AFTER-TREATMENT OF SINGLE CRYSTALS OR A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE (for producing semiconductor devices or parts thereof H10); APPARATUS THEREFOR

## Abstract

Methods of stabilizing DNA-engineered crystals can include cross-linking the hybridized oligonucleotides. Stabilized crystals can have improved chemical and thermal stability.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of stabilizing colloidal crystals, comprising:
crystallizing oligonucleotides-functionalized nanoparticles under conditions sufficient to provide crystals having a target crystalline structure, and
contacting the crystals with a cross-linking agent under conditions sufficient to cross-link the oligonucleotides and thereby provide stabilized crystals.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cross-linking agent is bis-chloromethylnitrosourea (BCNU) or 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the target crystalline structure is FCC or BCC.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the stabilized crystals are stable out of an aqueous saline solution.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the stabilized crystals have a melt temperature of at least 90° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the DNA of the stabilized crystals is adapted to reversibly change length.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the DNA reversibly changes length in response to changes in chemical environment.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles are metal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the nanoparticles are gold.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein DNA functionalized nanoparticles comprises inducing hybridization between first nanoparticles functionalized with linker oligonucleotides and second nanoparticles functionalized with anchor oligonucleotides, and crystallizing the oligonucleotide-functionalized nanoparticles comprises inducing hybridization between the linker oligonucleotides and the anchor oligonucleotides, and wherein contacting the crystals with the cross-linking agent cross-links the hybridized oligonucleotides.

### Claim 11

A colloidal crystal, comprising
first nanoparticles functionalized with linker oligonucleotides and second nanoparticles functionalized with anchor oligonucleotides, the first and second particles being arranged in a crystalline structure through hybridization of the linker oligonucleotides and anchor oligonucleotides, the hybridized oligonucleotides being cross-linked, thereby stabilizing the crystals.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The colloidal crystal of claim 11, wherein the linker oligonucleotide and the anchor oligonucleotide are complementary.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The colloidal crystal of claim 12, wherein the crystalline structure is BCC type.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The colloidal crystal of claim 11, wherein the linker oligonucleotides and the anchor oligonucleotides are self-complementary.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The colloidal crystal of claim 14, wherein the crystalline structure is FCC type.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The colloidal crystal of claim 11, wherein the crystals are stable in solvent.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The colloidal crystal of claim 11, wherein the crystals have a melting temperature of at least 90° C.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The colloidal crystal of claim 11, wherein the nanoparticles are metal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The colloidal crystal of claim 18, wherein the nanoparticles are gold.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The colloidal crystal of claim 11, wherein hybridized oligonucleotides are cross-linked to a percentage of about 5% to about 20%.