Increasing the stability of DNA nanostructure templates by atomic layer deposition of Al2O3 and its application in imprinting lithography

We present a method to increase the stability of DNA nanostructure templates through conformal coating with a nanometer-thin protective inorganic oxide layer created using atomic layer deposition (ALD). DNA nanotubes and origami triangles were coated with ca. 2 nm to ca. 20 nm of Al 2 O 3 . Nanoscale features of the DNA nanostructures were preserved after the ALD coating and the patterns are resistive to UV/O 3 oxidation. The ALD-coated DNA templates were used for a direct pattern transfer to poly(L-lactic acid) films.