Computer simulation study of the structural stability and materials properties of DNA-intercalated layered double hydroxides

Molecular dynamics techniques are used for carrying out large-scale simulations of double stranded, linear and plasmid DNA up to 480 base pairs in length intercalated within a magnesium-aluminum layered double hydroxide (LDH). The simulations have shown that plasmids are structurally supported when intercalated under ambient conditions, thus explaining the high efficacy rate of LDHs in gene transport.