ABSTRACT
This chapter describes deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) programmed nanostructures that contain covalently linked organic monomers to DNA. DNA is considered as one of the most promising functional nanomaterials. It is easily programmable, and the nanostructures are predictable due to the base pairing fidelity of DNA. Synthetic molecules in a DNA-programmed nanostructure were initially used for scaffolding and structural considerations. DNA nanotechnology is moving beyond the design and structure, to focus on function. Synthetic molecules having reactive functional groups with rigid and high molecular recognition ability can be excellent synthons for construction of DNA hybrid building blocks. Covalent conjugation of DNA with synthetic molecules ensures that the precise location of the molecules is known in the nanostructure. DNA synthesizer–based modification in the nucleobases has been done by inserting functional groups through either the phosphate backbone or nucleobases modification. Presynthetic modification involves modification of a nucleotide by phosphoramidite, followed by its insertion into the DNA oligomer via a DNA synthesizer.
