Fig. 3: 2D array self-assembly from TC-RNA tiles with a double helix arm.

a The design schematic showcases six TC-RNA tiles alongside their corresponding 2D array assemblies. The red circles indicate the locations of crossovers. b AFM images of assembled arrays of six TC-RNA tiles on mica assembly in 1×TAE Mg²⁺ buffer. c AFM images of assembled arrays of six TC-RNA tiles on mica assembly in 1×TAB Mg²⁺ buffer. From left to right in panel (b) and (c), the arrays assembled from tile TC-RNA-11, tile TC-RNA-12, tile TC-RNA-13, tile TC-RNA-14, tile TC-RNA-15, and tile TC-RNA-17, respectively. All the AFM images are taken after annealing from 70 °C to 15 °C for 12 h. All AFM images in this figure were reproduced at least three times, with each experiment conducted independently. The scale bar is 200 nm. The inset image size is 100 nm × 100 nm.