Introduction to the DNA nanotechnology themed collection

Abstract

DNA nanotechnology has transformed nucleic acids from simple genetic information carriers to programmable building blocks capable of manipulating matter at molecular-, nano-, and micro-scales. By harnessing Watson–Crick base pairing, researchers have created unprecedented architectures and devices, ranging from DNA origami and plasmonic nanoassemblies to molecular robots, computational science, biosensors, and therapeutic systems. This themed collection showcases state-of-the-art advances that exploit the sequence-encoded addressability of DNA to achieve precise structural control and functional integration, while revealing emerging opportunities across a wide range of disciplines.