General Physics Colloquium and Ralls Lecture, Professor Jasna Brujic, NYU

Title:  Programmable Self-assembly of Emulsions into Life-like Materials

Host:  Veit Elser

Abstract:  How collections of building blocks efficiently organize into structures with high fidelity is a central question in both biology and materials science. Here we show that linear chains of DNA-functionalized droplets (ABAB...) successfully fold into unique 2d foldamer geometries, which in  turn form nets that efficiently wrap into icosahedral shells in 3d using temperature protocols.  We then add enzymatic dynamics that write, cut, and modify the DNA interactions to assemble, disassemble, and reconfigure these structures. Finding such designable self-assembling systems are a promising route to functional materials that serve a purpose, such as targeted drug delivery and reactive surfaces.