DNA-mimetics: towards novel molecular devices having molecular information

Two experimental methods for materialization of DNA as novel molecular devices are described. Two types of Langmuir monolayers complexed with DNA molecules at the air–water interface were prepared for single-DNA stretching and template polymerization of the DNA-mimetics, respectively. Single-DNA molecule can be stretched on the solid surface when the ionic complex of a double-stranded DNA and a cationic monolayer was transferred slowly from water surface to the hydrophilic solid surface by using conventional Langmuir–Blodgett technique. The surface monolayer of the diacetylene containing nucleobase amphiphiles prepared as DNA-mimetics can form complementary hydrogen bonds with single-stranded DNAs at the air–water interface. The single-stranded DNA molecule can act as a template of photopolymerization of the diacetylene groups in the DNA-mimetics. Combination of two methods will provide a new preparation strategy of single molecular devices based on DNA.