To assemble the DNA origami nanoantennas or DONAs use the DNA-coated gold nanoparticles and the already assembled DNA origami forks. Add the nanofork solution to the coated gold nanoparticle solution maintaining a final molar concentration ratio of 1.5 is to one. To the mixture add magnesium chloride from a 50 millimolar stock solution to reach a final magnesium chloride concentration of four millimolar.
Adjust the final volume to 20 microliters using ultrapure water. Hybridize the DONAs using a temperature gradient in a thermocycler. Starting with rapid heating to 40 degrees Celsius follow the displayed temperature gradient program step by step.
For purification of the DONAs prepare 1%agarose gel by dissolving 0.8 grams of agarose in 80 milliliters of T A E supplemented with five millimolar magnesium chloride. Add 2.25 microliters of loading buffer containing 30%glycerol and 13 millimolar magnesium chloride to 18 microliters of DONA solution. Run the gel for 60 minutes at 70 volts in an ice water bath.
Cut out the band of interest and place it on a microscopy slide wrapped with paraffin plastic film. Then squeeze out the solution using a second paraffin film-wrapped microscopy slide. Using a pipette collect the squeezed liquid into a 500 microliter tube.
During the agarose gel purification, a dimer band corresponding to the DONAs appeared above the free gold nanoparticles band, the fastest running band in the sample.
