Paul A Hyman

US Patent:

20030198956, Oct 23, 2003

Filed:

Feb 21, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/080608

Inventors:

Lee Makowski - Hinsdale IL, US
Paul Hyman - Everett MA, US
Mark Williams - Revere MA, US

International Classification:

C12Q001/68
G01N033/53
B05D003/00

US Classification:

435/006000, 435/007100, 435/007500, 427/002110

Abstract:

The present invention provides methods and assembly units for the construction of nanostructures. Assembly of nanostructures proceeds by sequential, non-covalent, vectorial addition of an assembly unit to an initiator or nanostructure intermediate during an assembly cycle, a process termed “staged assembly.” Attachment of each assembly unit is mediated by specific, non-covalent binding of a single pre-determined joining element of one assembly unit to a complementary joining element on a target initiator or nanostructure intermediate. Each interaction of a joining element is designed such that the joining element does not interact with any other joining element of the assembly unit. Self-association of the assembly unit is therefore obviated: only one assembly unit can be added at a time to a target initiator or nanostructure intermediate.