Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 11
Design, Fabrication, and Applications of DNA
Nanomachines
Chen Song, Zhen-Gang Wang, and Baoquan Ding
Abstract
In this chapter, we outline the shared principles of design and fabrication
of DNA nanomachines that are established and newly developed. Various functional
DNA nanomachines and their applications are also discussed.
The DNA structures that act as building blocks of DNA nanomachines are
introduced briefly. The molecular recognition mechanisms and dynamical properties
of these building blocks are described for the elucidation of the design principles of
DNA nanomachines. According to the driving mechanisms, the DNA nanomachines
are divided into two categories. One category is buffer-dependent DNA nanoma-
chines, which are triggered by changes in the environment, such as metal ions, pH,
and protons. The other category is DNA strands-fueled nanomachines, in which
the moving forces are generated through the hybridization of carefully designed
DNA strands. A variety of DNA-based nanomachines with different functions have
been constructed, such as tweezers, rotors, and walkers. Generating highly sensitive
and selective response to their fuels (or stimuli), DNA nanomachines can be
functionalized for various applications. The buffer-dependent DNA nanomachines
have been successfully used as sensors. The specificity of DNA nanomachines is
utilized for template synthesis to organize chemicals into close proximity and to
control the synthesis process precisely. The switchability of DNA nanomachines
is employed for carrying small molecules, nucleic strands, proteins, or even metal
nanoparticles. The motions of the DNA nanomachines can also be used to control
the loading and release of the nanoscale objects, as well as to transport and assemble
the cargos. The immobilized DNA machines on solid phase succeed in generating
signal-triggered responsive surface. Finally, we highlight some challenges and
prospective.
C. Song • Z.-G. Wang • B. Ding (
)
Laboratory for Nanomaterials, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology,
Beijing 100190, China
e-mail:
dingbq@nanoctr.cn
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