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Living cells regulate the dynamics of developmental events through interconnected signaling systems that activate and deactivate inert precursors. This suggests that similarly, synthetic biomaterials could be designed to develop over time by using chemical reaction networks to regulate the availability of assembling components. Here we demonstrate how the sequential activation or deactivation of distinct DNA building blocks can be modularly coordinated to form distinct populations of self-assembling polymers using a transcriptional signaling cascade of synthetic genes. Our building blocks are DNA tiles that polymerize into nanotubes, and whose assembly can be controlled by RNA molecules produced by synthetic genes that target the tile interaction domains. To achieve different RNA production rates, we use a strategy based on promoter “nicking” and strand displacement. By changing the way the genes are cascaded and the RNA levels, we demonstrate that we can obtain spatially and temporally different outcomes in nanotube assembly, including random DNA polymers, block polymers, and as well as distinct autonomous formation and dissolution of distinct polymer populations. Our work demonstrates a way to construct autonomous supramolecular materials whose properties depend on the timing of molecular instructions for self-assembly, and can be immediately extended to a variety of other nucleic acid circuits and assemblies. 

Abstract The pursuit of smaller, energy‐efficient devices drives the exploration of electromechanically active thin films (<1 µm) to enable micro‐ and nano‐electromechanical systems. While the electromechanical response of such films is limited by substrate‐induced mechanical clamping, large electromechanical responses in antiferroelectric and multilayer thin‐film heterostructures have garnered interest. Here, multilayer thin‐film heterostructures based on antiferroelectric PbHfO₃and ferroelectric PbHf_1‐xTi_xO₃overcome substrate clamping to produce electromechanical strains >4.5%. By varying the chemistry of the PbHf_1‐xTi_xO₃layer (x = 0.3‐0.6) it is possible to alter the threshold field for the antiferroelectric‐to‐ferroelectric phase transition, reducing the field required to induce the onset of large electromechanical response. Furthermore, varying the interface density (from 0.008 to 3.1 nm⁻¹) enhances the electrical‐breakdown field by >450%. Attaining the electromechanical strains does not necessitate creating a new material with unprecedented piezoelectric coefficients, but developing heterostructures capable of withstanding large fields, thus addressing traditional limitations of thin‐film piezoelectrics. 

Abstract We present a strategy to control dynamically the loading and release of molecular ligands from synthetic nucleic acid receptors using in vitro transcription. We demonstrate this by engineering three model synthetic DNA‐based receptors: a triplex‐forming DNA complex, an ATP‐binding aptamer, and a hairpin strand, whose ability to bind their specific ligands can be cotranscriptionally regulated (activated or inhibited) through specific RNA molecules produced by rationally designed synthetic genes. The kinetics of our DNA sensors and their genetically generated inputs can be captured using differential equation models, corroborating the predictability of the approach used. This approach shows that highly programmable nucleic acid receptors can be controlled with molecular instructions provided by dynamic transcriptional systems, illustrating their promise in the context of coupling DNA nanotechnology with biological signaling. 

Abstract The Rashba effect enables control over the spin degree of freedom, particularly in polar materials where the polar symmetry couples to Rashba‐type spin splitting. The exploration of this effect, however, has been hindered by the scarcity of polar materials exhibiting the bulk‐Rashba effect and rapid spin‐relaxation effects dictated by the D'yakonov–Perel mechanism. Here, a polar LiNbO₃‐typeR3cphase of Bi_1‐xIn_1+xO₃withx≈0.15–0.24 is stabilized via epitaxial growth, which exhibits a bulk‐Rashba effect with suppressed spin relaxation as a result of its unidirectional spin texture. As compared to the previously observed non‐polarPnmaphase, this polar phase exhibits higher conductivity, reduced bandgap, and enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric responses. Combining first‐principles calculations and multimodal magnetotransport measurements, which reveal weak (anti)localization, anisotropic magnetoresistance, planar‐Hall effect, and nonreciprocal charge transport, a bulk‐Rashba effect without rapid spin relaxation is demonstrated. These findings offer insights into spin‐orbit coupling physics within polar oxides and suggest potential spintronic applications. 

The interplay of synthesis, experiments, and theory in broadening the landscape of thermoelectric materials is reported. 

Abstract The RNA programmed non-specific (trans) nuclease activity of CRISPR-Cas Type V and VI systems has opened a new era in the field of nucleic acid-based detection. Here, we report on the enhancement of trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a enzymes using hairpin DNA sequences as FRET-based reporters. We discover faster rate of trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a due to its improved affinity (Km) for hairpin DNA structures, and provide mechanistic insights of our findings through Molecular Dynamics simulations. Using hairpin DNA probes we significantly enhance FRET-based signal transduction compared to the widely used linear single stranded DNA reporters. Our signal transduction enables faster detection of clinically relevant double stranded DNA targets with improved sensitivity and specificity either in the presence or in the absence of an upstream pre-amplification step.