"DNA-Engineered Nanoparticle Quasicrystals: A Material Science Breakthrough"

Scientists from Northwestern University, the University of Michigan, and the Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials have engineered a quasicrystal using DNA-assembled nanoparticles, marking a significant advancement in nanomaterial design. Quasicrystals are structures that exhibit non-repeating patterns and have unique properties such as unusual electronic behaviors and surface characteristics. The research team used DNA to program the assembly of nanoparticles into a quasicrystalline structure, confirmed by electron microscopy and X-ray scattering. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new materials with potential applications in various fields of nanotechnology. The research was supported by funding from the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the US Department of Energy, and Spanish scientific institutions.