Photo-switchable patterning of gold nanoparticles along 3D DNA nanotubes.

We have developed a reversible photoswitching platform based on 3D DNA nanotubes by integrating photoisomerizable azobenzene molecules along the edges. This would allow the reversible conformational changes of the nanotubes between linear and bent features and the switchable patterning of gold nanoparticles in response to UV/Vis irradiation. This work provides a new strategy to create reversibly reconfigurable transformative nanomaterials for potential applications in the fields of renewable energy, sensing, nanorobotics and nanomedicine.