We show that double-strand DNA (dsDNA) molecules, when dispersed in their native aqueous environment, can retain base-pairing properties under the probing condition of a conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This stability of dsDNA is confirmed from quantitative analysis of DNA-nanoparticle conjugate trajectories visualized directly using graphene liquid cell TEM. In comparison to conventional TEM, wherein DNA molecules are dried out and suffer from the unblocked showering of electrons, this graphene liquid cell allows increased energy dissipation via the surrounding liquid medium, which in return keeps DNA viable. In-situ imaging of correlated motions of DNA-nanoparticle conjugates provides insights into the design principles of artificial nanocrystal molecules and solids linked by DNA as well as allows dynamic events to be visualized in real time.

Visualizing DNA-nanoparticle motion under graphene liquid cell TEM

245th National Meeting (2013)

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