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Functional Nanomaterials Engineering Lab
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The lab uses the self-assembly of DNA to arrange nanoparticles in an orderly way and form crystals.
AboutAbout the lab
Arranging nanomaterials with biomolecules.
The Tagawa Lab studies how to use biomolecules such as DNA to arrange nanomaterials in an orderly way and form crystals.
Extremely small substances such as nanoparticles have properties different from those of bulk materials, and when they are arranged in an ordered way, further new properties appear.
However, it is not easy to control the arrangement as desired with nanomaterials alone.
The lab therefore uses the self-assembly of biomolecules such as nucleic acids to precisely control the interactions and arrangement of nanomaterials.
Key terms
- Self-assembly
- The process by which molecules and similar components gather on their own and form a defined structure, without being put together from outside
- Nanoparticle superlattice
- A periodic structure in which nanoparticles are arranged in an orderly way, like atoms in a crystal
- Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)
- A method of investigating nano- to mesoscale structures by measuring how X-rays directed at a sample scatter at small angles
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
The lab uses the self-assembly of biomolecules such as nucleic acids to control interactions between nanomaterials, crystallizing them while precisely controlling their arrangement and higher-order structure. It aims to create new materials that exhibit nanoscale physical phenomena and to contribute to the development of devices based on new principles.
*Illustrative imageGrowing single crystals of nanoparticle superlattices
The lab uses DNA self-assembly to crystallize nanoparticles and produce high-quality single crystals of nanoparticle superlattices. By making the crystals shrink uniformly in all directions as they dry, the lab succeeded in making superlattices with nanosized gaps between the particles.
*Illustrative imageStructural analysis by small-angle X-ray scattering
Combining small-angle X-ray scattering with the rotating crystal method, the lab is developing a single-crystal structure analysis method for crystals with periodic structures at the nano to mesoscale. It examines the internal structure of a single crystal in detail and optimizes the conditions for making high-quality single crystals.
*Illustrative imageArranging nanoparticles on a plane
Using the property that molecules can move within the plane of a lipid bilayer membrane, the lab succeeded in crystallizing DNA-modified nanoparticles on a flat surface and controlling their structure. The structure can be changed by varying the type and concentration of ions.
*Illustrative imagePorous superlattice crystals that enclose molecules
The lab succeeded in making DNA-modified nanoparticle superlattice crystals with many gaps, which can enclose protein molecules and nanomaterials inside simply by mixing. They are expected to be applied to carriers for drug delivery systems that transport drugs.
MembersFaculty
The Tagawa Lab's members include faculty, technical and administrative staff, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorMiho Tagawa
- Assistant ProfessorXu Li
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Precious opal (Coober Pedy Opal Field, South Australia)” James St. John / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Growing single crystals of nanoparticle superlattices: “Gold 8125c” George Lisensky / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Structural analysis by small-angle X-ray scattering: “Aust.-Synchrotron-Soft-X-ray-Beamline-Experimental-Station” jjron / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Arranging nanoparticles on a plane: “The surface of highly curved lipid bilayer” Semen Yesylevskyy / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Porous superlattice crystals that enclose molecules: “Protein crystals grown in space” Credits: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA-MSFC) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Crystal Growth Information Engineering Lab): “Rounded Silicon Carbide Ingot (cropped)” LaMèreVeille / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nano Medical Engineering Lab): “Magnetické chování ferrokapalin” ZuzanaBrabcova / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nanospin and Magnetic Materials Engineering Lab): “Princip naprašování” Vítězslav Lamač / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Synchrotron Radiation Applied Engineering Lab): “02 Fermilab - Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory - American particle accelerator Fermilab near Chicago Illinois” Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
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