DNA Origami Nanoneedles on Freestanding Lipid Membranesas a Tool To Observe Isotropic–Nematic Transition in Two Dimensions.

We introducea simple experimental system to study dynamics of needle-like nanoobjectsin two dimensions (2D) as a function of their surface density closeto the isotropic–nematic transition. Using fluorescence correlationspectroscopy, we find that translational and rotational diffusionof rigid DNA origami nanoneedles bound to freestanding lipid membranesis strongly suppressed upon an increase in the surface particle density.Our experimental observations show a good agreement with results ofMonte Carlo simulations of Brownian hard needles in 2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]