Minireview
Dynamic DNA superstructures with emergent functions
This minireview highlights recent breakthroughs and outstanding challenges in the programmable self-assembly of dynamic DNA superstructures with emergent, collective behaviors.
Rolling circle amplification/transcription-based nanotechnology for efficient delivery of nucleic acid drugs
This review gives an overview of RCA/RCT-based nanocarriers for nucleic acid drug delivery, systematically summarizing their nanoization strategies, drug loading approaches, targeting modalities, and controlled release mechanisms.
DNA computing: DNA circuits and data storage
DNA computing represents an innovative computational paradigm that leverages DNA molecules and spontaneous reactions. This review elucidates the advantages and development route based on DNA circuits and DNA data storage.
DNA nanotechnology-enabled bioanalysis of extracellular vesicles
In this review, we summarize recent breakthroughs in DNA nanotechnology-driven strategies for detecting EV-associated biomarkers (proteins, miRNA, mRNA, glycoRNA), addressing a pressing need for non-invasive diagnostic tools.
Advances in aptamer-based electrochemical biosensors for disease diagnosis: integration of DNA and nanomaterials
Aptamer-based electrochemical biosensors (AEBs) have emerged as a highly promising platform for disease diagnostics, offering high specificity, sensitivity, and real-time detection capabilities.
Nucleic acid-based chiral nanostructures and their biomedical applications
The chiral geometries of nucleic acids and emerging biomedical applications of nucleic acid-based chiral nanostructures are summarized in this review.
Supramolecular DNA/Amino Acids-based Oxidase-mimetic Nanocatalyst Exhibiting Drug Degradation Capability
Electrochromic DNA-based bioink with rapid interfacial gelation for bioprinting applications
DNA-based hydrogel rapidly forms via interfacial interaction with di-n-octyl viologen (DOV), producing hollow structures with tunable shells and reversible electrochromism, offering structural programmability and electroresponsive functionality.
Structure-based DNA memory with Boolean random access
Enabled Boolean logic-based random access for structural DNA memory systems by integrating orthogonal index strands within the DNA origami files to serve as file tags.
Rational design of dynamic DNA self-assembly through a responsive-bond-embedded loop
Herein, we propose a versatile strategy for dynamic DNA self-assembly through a control loop embedded with responsive chemical groups.
Adaptive catalytic compartments emerge from synergistic integration of DNA nanostructures and transient coacervates
A catalytic coacervate is introduced using salt–bridge interactions between a biguanide polymer (PHMB) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Augmented catalysis is exhibited by the G-rich DNAzyme inside the coacervates, with ATP-fueled activity cycling.
Communication
Understanding the structural mechanics of ligated DNA crystals via molecular dynamics simulation
Molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the effects of ligation patterns and motif lengths on the mechanical properties and deformation behaviors of DNA crystals.
A long-staple design approach towards the scalable production of scaffolded DNA origami
This study demonstrates that scaffolded DNA origami can be successfully assembled using significantly elongated staple strands, thereby enabling the effective integration of enzymatic DNA production methods into DNA nanotechnology.
Communication
Pattern and precision: DNA-based mapping of spatial rules for T cell activation
The nanoscale spatial organization of T cell receptor (TCR) influences activation of CD8+ T cells; a comprehensive understanding of the molecular landscape using native peptide-MHC class I (pMHC-I) is explored.
Ultrathin DNA–copper nanosheets with antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity for treatment of infected wounds
DNS/CuNCs inhibit biofilms via quorum sensing (QS), kill bacteria and disrupt biofilms through ultrathin structure-peroxidase synergy, promoting wound healing with high biosafety, offering preventive and clinical anti-infective applications.
Communication
DNA-triggered activation of aptamer-neutralized enzyme for in situ formation of injectable hydrogel
An injectable hydrogel system was developed by using a bispecific aptamer-neutralized enzyme and a triggering DNA.
Non-saturated nucleic acid probes with a broad dynamic range
A non-saturating nucleic acid probe (NSNAP) couples dynamic DNA nanotechnology with enzymatic target depletion to enable wide-range, reusable nucleic acid quantification, overcoming saturation limits for clinical and research applications.
A nanoscale quality control framework for assessing FFPE DNA integrity in cancer research
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples are widely used in cancer research and clinical diagnostics for preserving tissue morphology and enabling long-term storage.
Communication
AlphaFold 3 modeling of DNA nanomotifs: is it reliable?
Being able to accurately predict structures is highly desirable for nanoengineering with DNA and other biomolecules.
About this collection
DNA nanotechnology concerns unconventional design of artificial nucleic acid materials beyond their function as genetic information carriers in life. It harnesses the unique programmable properties of DNA molecules to create unprecedented nanoscale structures and devices with applications across a wide range of disciplines including chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, mathematics, biology, electronics and photonics.
Since its foundational concept established by Nadrian Seeman in the 1980s, the field of DNA nanotechnology has attracted significant research efforts worldwide and flourished over the past 40 years. Today, it represents a critical component of modern nanoscience and nanotechnology, opening new frontiers in both fundamental science and practical applications. Taking advantages of ubiquitous Watson-Crick base-pairing interactions, DNA nanotechnology offers the ability to design and manipulate matter with high precision at the molecular, nano and microscopic scales, enabling various DNA origami architectures, plasmonic nanoassemblies, DNA robots, DNA computing, biosensing, drug delivery and therapies, to name a few.
This collection is being guest edited by Professors Chunhai Fan (Shanghai Jiaotong University, China), Wenlong Cheng (University of Sydney, Australia), Chengde Mao (Purdue University, USA), Shelley Wickham (University of Sydney, Australia), Young Hoon Roh (Yonsei University, South Korea) and Laura Na Liu (University of Stuttgart, Germany).