  Colloidal particles grafted with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) chains can
self-assemble into a number of different crystalline structures, where
hybridization of the ssDNA chains creates links between colloids stabilizing
their structure. Depending on the geometry and the size of the particles, the
grafting density of the ssDNA chains, and the length and choice of DNA
sequences, a number of different crystalline structures can be fabricated.
However, understanding how these factors contribute synergistically to the
self-assembly process of DNA-functionalized nano- or micro-sized particles
remains an intensive field of research. Moreover, the fabrication of long-range
structures due to kinetic bottlenecks in the self-assembly are additional
challenges. Here, we discuss the most recent advances from theory and
experiment with particular focus put on recent simulation studies.
