Brief History of DNA Nanotechnology - DNA Nanotechnology: From Structure to Function - page 4

shape using a long single-stranded scaffold (usually M13 bacteriophage genome)
and hundreds of short helper oligonucleotides (staple strands). After temperature
annealing, the scaffold is held in place by these staple strands. “Scaffolded DNA
origami” has several important advantages as compared to previously used simple
self-assembled “tile” strategies. The folding of the long scaffold strand is usually
an error-tolerant process that can result in well-defined nanostructures with few
defects and high yield. This method also does not rely on precise stoichiometric
concentrations of oligonucleotides and the necessity of high purity. Most signifi-
cantly, it is possible to create highly complex shapes with fixed dimensions and
full addressability, which allow site-specific attachment of functional molecules or
nanomaterials at prescribed positions. All these features have been largely explored
in many exciting applications after the invention of DNA origami.

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