Analysis of DNA-Guided Self-Assembly of Microspheres Using Imaging Flow Cytometry

Imaging flow cytometry was used to analyze the self-assembly of DNA-conjugated polystyrene microspheres. This technique enables quantitative analysis of the assembly process and thereby enables detailed analysis of the effect of structural and process variables on the assembly yield. In a demonstration of the potential of this technique, the influence of DNA strand base pair (bp) length was examined, and it was found that 50 bp was sufficient to drive the assembly of microspheres efficiently, forming not only dimers but also chainlike structures. The effect of stoichiometry on the yield was also examined. The analysis demonstrated that self-assembly of 50 bp microspheres can be driven nearly to completion by stoichiometric excess in a manner similar to Le Chatelier's principle in common chemical equilibrium.