Mesoscale patterns and biochemical functionality in multi-phase DNA droplets

Micron-scale liquid droplets formed from DNA offer an umatched ability to create complex, mesoscale patterns with features that span over 5 decades in length scale (i.e. from the nanoscale size of the particle itself, to the >millimeter scale associated with arrays of droplets). Further, these patterns can be driven to non-equilibrium states through enzymatic coupling. I will discuss our explorations in this area, focusing on two topics in particular: 1) Our investigation of the limits of complexity of a multi-phase DNA droplet system, and the associated the creation of transiently stabilized, packed 2D droplet layers with novel dynamics; and 2) Our studies of enzymatic remodeling of droplets and the patterns they form.