Using the DNA origami technique, we constructed a DNA nanodevice functionalized with small interfering RNA (siRNA) within its inner cavity and the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX), ...intercalated in the DNA duplexes. The incorporation of disulfide bonds allows the triggered mechanical opening and release of siRNA in response to intracellular glutathione (GSH) in tumors to knockdown genes key to cancer progression. Combining RNA interference and chemotherapy, the nanodevice induced potent cytotoxicity and tumor growth inhibition, without observable systematic toxicity. Given its autonomous behavior, exceptional designability, potent antitumor activity and marked biocompatibility, this DNA nanodevice represents a promising strategy for precise drug design for cancer therapy.
An autonomous tubular DNA nanodevice is constructed to deliver a chemotherapeutic drug and siRNAs. This nanodevice can realize on‐demand targeting, respond to stimuli in the intracellular environment and release multiple molecular payloads for combined antitumor activity.
The success of nanorobotics requires the precise placement and subsequent operation of specific nanomechanical devices at particular locations. The structural programmability of DNA makes it a ...particularly attractive system for nanorobotics. We have developed a cassette that enables the placement of a robust, sequence-dependent DNA robot arm within a two-dimensional (2D) crystalline DNA array. The cassette contains the device, an attachment site, and a reporter of state. We used atomic force microscopy to demonstrate that the rotary device is fully functional after insertion. Thus, a nanomechanical device can operate within a fixed frame of reference.
Noble decoration: DNA origami nanostructures (purple) were utilized as spatially addressable templates to organize noble‐metal nanoparticles of silver (yellow balls) and gold (red ball) into ...well‐defined discrete architectures (see examples of nanostructure designs and TEM images of the assembled structures).
Core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) with lipid shells and varying water content and rigidity but with the same chemical composition, size, and surface properties are assembled using a microfluidic ...platform. Rigidity can dramatically alter the cellular uptake efficiency, with more‐rigid NPs able to pass more easily through cell membranes. The mechanism accounting for this rigidity‐dependent cellular uptake is revealed through atomistic‐level simulations.
DNA nanotechnology has been employed in the construction of self-assembled nano-biomaterials with uniform size and shape for various biological applications, such as bioimaging, diagnosis, or ...therapeutics. Herein, recent successful efforts to utilize multifunctional DNA origami nanoplatforms as drug-delivery vehicles are reviewed. Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on gold nanorods, chemotherapeutic drugs, cytosine-phosphate-guanine, functional proteins, gene drugs, and their combinations for optoacoustic imaging, photothermal therapy, chemotherapy, immunological therapy, gene therapy, and coagulation-based therapy are summarized. The challenges and opportunities for DNA-based nanocarriers for biological applications are also discussed.
Metallic bowtie nanoarchitectures can produce dramatic electric field enhancement, which is advantageous in single‐molecule analysis and optical information processing. Plasmonic bowtie ...nanostructures were successfully constructed using a DNA origami‐based bottom‐up assembly strategy, which enables precise control over the geometrical configuration of the bowtie with an approximate 5 nm gap. A single Raman probe was accurately positioned at the gap of the bowtie. Single‐molecule surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SM‐SERS) of individual nanostructures, including ones containing an alkyne group, was observed. The design achieved repeatable local field enhancement of several orders of magnitude. This method opens the door on a novel strategy for the fabrication of metal bowtie structures and SM‐SERS, which can be utilized in the design of highly‐sensitive photonic devices.
Plasmonic bowtie nanostructures were successfully constructed using DNA origami‐based self‐assembly. A single Raman probe was accurately positioned at the gap of the bowtie and single‐molecule SERS of individual nanostructures was observed.
The unprecedented development of DNA nanotechnology has caused DNA self‐assembly to attract close attention in many disciplines. In this research news article, the employment of DNA self‐assembly in ...the fields of materials science and nanotechnology is described. DNA self‐assembly can be used to prepare bulk‐scale hydrogels and 3D macroscopic crystals with nanoscale internal structures, to induce the crystallization of nanoparticles, to template the fabrication of organic conductive nanomaterials, and to act as drug delivery vehicles for therapeutic agents. The properties and functions are fully tunable because of the designability and specificity of DNA assembly. Moreover, because of the intrinsic dynamics, DNA self‐assembly can act as a program switch and can efficiently control stimuli responsiveness. We highlight the power of DNA self‐assembly in the preparation and function regulation of materials, aiming to motivate future multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research. Finally, we describe some of the challenges currently faced by DNA assembly that may affect the functional evolution of such materials, and we provide our insights into the future directions of several DNA self‐assembly‐based nanomaterials.
This article discusses the significant roles of DNA self‐assembly in materials science and nanotechnology, including the formation of hydrogels, induced three‐dimensional crystallization, the templated synthesis of conductive polymers, and nanomedical vehicles. In particular, the designability, specific recognition, and inherent dynamics enable DNA self‐assemblies to be the key elements in regulating the functions of DNA‐based bulk‐scale and nanoscale materials.
A functional cancer theranostic nanoplatform is developed, specifically tailored toward the optoacoustic modality by combining gold nanorods with DNA nanostructures (D–AuNR). DNA origami is used as ...an efficient delivery vehicle owing to its prominent tumor‐targeting property. The D–AuNR hybrids display an enhanced tumor diagnostic sensitivity by improved optoacoustic imaging and excellent photothermal therapeutic properties in vivo.
The exploration of biocompatible materials with circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) activity is becoming an attractive topic due to the great potential application in biosensing and bioimaging. ...Here, we describe a strategy to fabricate new CPL-active biomaterials using achiral carbazole-based biscyanine fluorophores coassembled with chiral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules. This cyanine molecule has been shown to behave as a DNA detecting probe, featuring strong fluorescent emission induced by restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR). When the achiral cyanine molecules are bound to the minor groove of DNA via electrostatic attraction in aqueous solution, the chirality of the DNA molecules can be transferred to the confined RIR cyanine dyes, triggering a remarkable circularly polarized luminescent emission. The chirality of the CPL signal can be regulated by the structures of the DNA templates. Stimuli-responsive CPL activates were observed from DNA–cyanine complexes. We further verified this strategy on different DNA-based nanomaterials, including DNA origami nanostructure. Our design presents a new avenue to fabricate compatible CPL materials.
Here we demonstrate Au nanoparticle self-similar chain structure organized by triangle DNA origami with well-controlled orientation and <10 nm spacing. We show for the first time that a large DNA ...complex (origami) and multiple AuNP conjugates can be well-assembled and purified with reliable yields. The assembled structure could be used to generate high local-field enhancement. The same method can be used to precisely localize multiple components on a DNA template for potential applications in nanophotonic, nanomagnetic, and nanoelectronic devices.
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