In this riveting episode, Dr. Brujic delves into the fascinating world of particle self-assembly. We discuss a groundbreaking model system of colloidal droplet chains that leverage programmable DNA interactions to direct their folding into distinct geometries. As Dr. Brujic explains, it is possible to watch these droplets in real time and space, enabling researchers to unravel the rules of folding.

Dr. Brujic describes the power of controlling the order in which interactions occur to guide folding into unique structures, termed "colloidal foldamers." We examine the capabilities of simple alternating sequences and explore how these sequences create a variety of foldamers in both two and three dimensions.

By optimizing droplet sequence and adding an extra 'flavor', researchers are able to encode a significant portion of the 619 possible two-dimensional geometries. The conversation delves into how foldamers can exhibit open structures with holes, a promising aspect for porous design.

The discussion also touches upon numerical simulations, which show that foldamers can interact to create complex supra colloidal architectures, including dimers, ribbons, and mosaics. Dr. Brujic emphasizes that their results have wide-ranging applications, from organic molecules to Rubik’s Snakes.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the implications of this work in materials science, particularly how it places folding at the forefront of materials self-assembly.

Keywords: Colloidal Self-Assembly, Foldamers, Programmable DNA Interactions, Material Science, Supracolloidal Architectures, Particle Self-Assembly, Porous Design.

McMullen, A., Muñoz Basagoiti, M., Zeravcic, Z. et al. Self-assembly of emulsion droplets through programmable folding. Nature (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05198-8