Liedl Group

We are interested in molecular self-assembly processes in general and particularly in the engineering of functional DNA devices using the DNA origami method. We will focus on the integration of self-assembled DNA nanostructures with lithographically defined environments. We hope to combine well-established lithography methods with the advantages of self-assembly and molecular addressability. The design of functional DNA hybrid materials and its characterization will also help us to understand the mechanical and chemical interactions across multiple levels of organization between the different molecular components in living cells and tissues.

We are grateful to funding from the European Research Council (ERC) enabling us to realize the ERC Consolidator Grant project DNA-Funs: DNA-based functional lattices (link)

Wer are a member lab of the Munich DNA Node.

Research

3D DNA Origami Crystals

Thus far, arranging sizeable guest molecules in three dimensions using DNA frameworks has not been achieved, mainly because the reported DNA lattices either lack the possibility to grow in three dimensions, or lack sufficient rigidity and / or cavity size to host guest molecules. Here we overcome these challenges and show the poly-crystalline assembly of a DNA origami-based triangular tensegrity structure into rhombohedral lattices and we further demonstrate our capacity to co-crystallize even large guest nanocomponents by using gold nanoparticles of various sizes.