Issue 23, 2015

DNA topology influences molecular machine lifetime in human serum

Abstract

DNA nanotechnology holds the potential for enabling new tools for biomedical engineering, including diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutics. However, applications for DNA devices are thought to be limited by rapid enzymatic degradation in serum and blood. Here, we demonstrate that a key aspect of DNA nanotechnology—programmable molecular shape—plays a substantial role in device lifetimes. These results establish the ability to operate synthetic DNA devices in the presence of endogenous enzymes and challenge the textbook view of near instantaneous degradation.

Graphical abstract: DNA topology influences molecular machine lifetime in human serum

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 Apr 2015
Accepted
27 Apr 2015
First published
30 Apr 2015
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale, 2015,7, 10382-10390

Author version available

DNA topology influences molecular machine lifetime in human serum

S. Goltry, N. Hallstrom, T. Clark, W. Kuang, J. Lee, C. Jorcyk, W. B. Knowlton, B. Yurke, W. L. Hughes and E. Graugnard, Nanoscale, 2015, 7, 10382 DOI: 10.1039/C5NR02283E

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