Abstract: Structural DNA nanotechnology has been developed into a powerful method for creating self-assembled nanomaterials. Their compatibility with biosystems, nanoscale addressability, and programmable dynamic features make them appealing candidates for biomedical research. This review paper focuses on DNA self-assembly strategies and designer nanostructures with custom functions for biomedical applications. Specifically, we review the development of DNA self-assembly methods, from simple DNA motifs consisting of a few DNA strands to complex DNA architectures assembled by DNA origami. Three advantages are discussed using structural DNA nanotechnology for biomedical applications: (1) precise spatial control, (2) molding and guiding other biomolecules, and (3) using reconfigurable DNA nanodevices to overcome biomedical challenges. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of employing DNA nanotechnology for biomedical applications, emphasizing diverse assembly strategies to create a custom DNA nanostructure with desired functions.
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Rationally Programming Nanomaterials with DNA for Biomedical Applications
DNA is not only a carrier of genetic information, but also a versatile structural tool for the engineering and self‐assembling of nanostructures. In this regard, the DNA template has dramatically enhanced the scalability, programmability, and functionality of the self‐assembled DNA nanostructures. These capabilities provide opportunities for a wide range of biomedical applications in biosensing, bioimaging, drug delivery, and disease therapy. In this review, the importance and advantages of DNA for programming and fabricating of DNA nanostructures are first highlighted. The recent progress in design and construction of DNA nanostructures are then summarized, including DNA conjugated nanoparticle systems, DNA‐based clusters and extended organizations, and DNA origami‐templated assemblies. An overview on biomedical applications of the self‐assembled DNA nanostructures is provided. Finally, the conclusion and perspectives on the self‐assembled DNA nanostructures are presented.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 1905920
- PAR ID:
- 10386209
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Science
- Volume:
- 8
- Issue:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 2198-3844
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Over the past few decades, DNA has been recognized as a powerful self-assembling material capable of crafting supramolecular nanoarchitectures with quasi-angstrom precision, which promises various applications in the fields of materials science, nanoengineering, and biomedical science. Notable structural features include biocompatibility, biodegradability, high digital encodability by Watson–Crick base pairing, nanoscale dimension, and surface addressability. Bottom-up fabrication of complex DNA nanostructures relies on the design of fundamental DNA motifs, including parallel (PX) and antiparallel (AX) crossovers. However, paranemic or PX motifs have not been thoroughly explored for the construction of DNA-based nanostructures compared to AX motifs. In this review, we summarize the developments of PX-based DNA nanostructures, highlight the advantages as well as challenges of PX-based assemblies, and give an overview of the structural and chemical features that lend their utilization in a variety of applications. The works presented cover PX-based DNA nanostructures in biological systems, dynamic systems, and biomedical contexts. The possible future advances of PX structures and applications are also summarized, discussed, and postulated.more » « less
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Abstract Structural DNA nanotechnology enables the self‐organization of matter at the nanometer scale, but approaches to expand the inorganic and electrical functionality of these scaffolds remain limited. Developments in nucleic acid metallics have enabled the incorporation of site‐specific metal ions in DNA duplexes and provide a means of functionalizing the double helix with atomistic precision. Here a class of 2D DNA nanostructures that incorporate the cytosine‐Ag+‐cytosine (dC:Ag+:dC) base pair as a chemical trigger for self‐assembly is described. It is demonstrated that Ag+‐functionalized DNA can undergo programmable assembly into large arrays and rings, and can be further coassembled with guanine tetraplexes (G4). It is shown that 2D DNA lattices can be assembled with a variety of embedded nanowires at tunable spacing. These results serve as a foundation for further development of self‐assembled, metalated DNA nanostructures, with potential for high‐precision DNA nanoelectronics with nanometer pitch.
