DNA-templated photoinduced silver deposition

We are presenting a photography-derived methodology to achieve the photoreduction of Ag+-DNA complexes. lambda-Phage DNA was first loaded with silver ions, then irradiated with UV light at 254 nm. The DNA bases acted as light sensitizers, promoting the in situ reduction of Ag+ and the formation of metallic silver clusters. Three different approaches will illustrate this procedure, and silver nanoparticle chains will be grown along a DNA template in a rapid and specific way.