Hairpin-like oligonucleotide-conjugated spherical nucleic acid

A nanoparticle having a substantially spherical geometry comprising an oligonucleotide conjugated thereto, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a structure as follows:

• [nucleic acid sequence 1]-[linker]-[tethering agent]-[linker]y-[nucleic acid sequence 2];
• nucleic acid sequence 1 and nucleic acid sequence 2 are sufficiently complementary to hybridize to each other;
• x and y are each independently 0 or 1;
• the tethering agent comprises a moiety capable of covalently or non-covalently binding to the nanoparticle surface;
• and
• each linker is independently a oligomeric moiety comprising amino acids, nucleic acids, a polymer, or a combination thereof.