Biomod/2013/NCSU

Macroscale Ordering of Asymmetrical Heterodimers

Ordering particles is difficult on the nanoscale and unfortunately becomes harder on larger length scales. Assembling particles on greater length scales allow for the design of structures with finely tuned properties not to mention precise arrangements. To accomplish macroscale ordering of nanoscale particles, one can either construct an ordered array via controlled assembly and placement; requiring fine-tuned reactions and kinetics resulting in a difficult game of nanoscale tetris, or by arranging the particles after their creation into an ordered array. While the first method requires precise control over the reactions and kinetics of the particles the second method allows for a less sensitive procedure. Using heterodimers composed of gold nanorods and quantum dots linked together with an oligonucleotide we hope to create a macroscale ordered array to exploit the plasmonic properties of gold nanorods on a higher length-scale. A recent paper demonstrated the alignment of gold nanorods suspended within a polymer (PEO) parallel to the axis of the electrospun polymer fibers. By electrospinning our heterdimer’s in Su-8 we hope to align our particles within the fibers to create a macroscale array of nanoscale heterodimers. This alignment will allow us to exploit the plasmonic properties of the gold nanorods on a higher length-scale than previously possible.