Hierarchical Assembly of DNA Nanostructures for Signal Transmission
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Date
2017-12
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
In recent years scaffolded DNA origami has emerged as a novel technique for the construction of programmable nanostructures via molecular self-assembly. This technology provides unprecedented control over geometry and mechanical properties. These structures have demonstrated potential for a range of biomedical applications such as drug delivery, force measurement, and biomarker detection. Recent advancements have focused on the design of dynamic structures that can be triggered by DNA or other biological or environmental inputs to undergo actuated motion of the structure into different conformations. This work aims to exand on this foundation by developing of material systems where local conformational changes can be physically communicated to other parts of the material through propagated motion. We have designed a dynamic DNA nanostructure that can be assembled into arrays that can reach length scales ~10-100 times larger than the individual structure and can propagate conformational changes across the arrays. DNA strands specific to one end of the array initiate motion for the "trigger" structure at that end, which in turn propagates motion to subsequent structures in a sequential manner. This propagated motion is designed to transmit a signal across large distances. In the future, the ability to transmit a signal across micron-scale distances could lead to customizable molecular transport systems, programmable circuits, and long-range directional communication in biological environments.
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Keywords
DNA Origami, Nanotechnology, Polymerization, Nanostructures