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Gels of DNA-made Nanoparticles Francesco Sciortino

Gels of DNA-made Nanoparticles Francesco Sciortino

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Gels of DNA-made Nanoparticles Francesco Sciortino
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<strong>Seminar of the School of Physical Sciences</strong> <strong>Gels of DNA-made Nanoparticles</strong> <strong>Francesco Sciortino </strong> (Universita' di Roma "La Sapienza", Rome) Date: <strong>January 30, 2017 (Monday)</strong> Time: <strong>17:00 hrs (5:00 PM) [ ** Please note the unusual time ** ]</strong> Venue: <strong>Seminar Room, First Floor,School of Physical Sciences (SPS), JNU</strong> <strong>Abstract:</strong> DNA oligomers can nowadays be assembled to produce a large variety of nanometric constructs, via a cascade of self-assembly processes, each one guided by the length of complementary sequences of distinct DNA strands. In the lecture I will show that it is possible to build bulk quantities of DNA-made nanoparticles that closely match idealised patchy colloids, transferring modern in-paper and in-silico intuitions into experimental realisations. I will show how unconventional collective behaviours, recently explored theoretically and numerically, can indeed be reproduced in the lab. Specifically I will discuss: (i) how to exploit limited valence interactions to suppress phase separation and create equilibrium gels[1], i.e. a thermodynamically stable disordered phase [2]; (ii) how to exploit competing interactions to generate a material that is fluid both at high and at low temperatures and a disordered open gel in between [3] and (iii) how to exploit bond-swap dynamics to create an all-DNA vitrimer, e.g. a self-healing gel[4]. [1] E. Bianchi, J. Largo, P. Tartaglia, E. Zaccarelli, F. Sciortino Phase diagram of patchy colloids: towards empty liquids, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 168301, (2006). F. Sciortino and E. Zaccarelli Reversible gels of patchy particles, Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science 15, 246-253 (2011) [2] S. Biffi, R. Cerbino, F. Bomboi E. M. Paraboschi, R. Asselta, F. Sciortino and T. Bellini, Phase behavior and critical activated dynamics of limited-valence DNA nanostars, Proc. Nat. Acad. Science, 110 15633-15(2013).. S. Biffi, R. Cerbino, G. Nava, F. Bomboi, F. Sciortino and T. Bellini, Equilibrium gels of low-valence DNA nanostars: a colloidal model for strong glass formers, Soft Matter, 11, 3132 (2015) [3] F. Bomboi, F. Romano, M. Leo, J. Fernandez-Castanon, R. Cerbino, T. Bellini, F. Bordi, P. Filetici &amp; F. Sciortino Re-entrant DNA gels Nat. Commun. 7, 13191(2016). S. Roldan-Vargas, F. Smallenburg, W. Kob and F. Sciortino, Gelling by heating Scientific Report 3, 2451 (2013) [4] F. Romano and F. Sciortino, Switching Bonds in a DNA Gel: An All-DNA Vitrimer, Phys. Rev. Letts. 114, 078104 (2015). D. Montarnal, M. Capelot, F. Tournilhac, and L. Leibler, Silica-like malleable materials from permanent organic networks, Science 334, 965 (2011)

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.