Gel electrophoresis as a nanoseparation tool serving DNA nanotechnology

The past years have witnessed a rapid development of DNA nanotechnology in nanomaterials science with a central focus on programmable material construction on the nanoscale. An efficient method is therefore highly desirable (but challenging) for analytical/preparative purification of DNA-conjugated nano-objects and their DNA-assemblies. In this regard, agarose gel electrophoresis, a traditional technique that has been invented for biomacromolecule separation, has found many innovative uses. This includes shape, size, charge, and ligand-valence separations of nanoparticle building blocks as well as monitoring a self-assembly process towards product identification and purification. 2015 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.