Transient DNA-Based Nanostructures Controlled by Redox Inputs.
Synthetic DNA has emerged as a powerful self-assembled material for the engineering of nanoscale supramolecular devices and materials. Recently dissipative self-assembly of DNA-based supramolecular structures has emerged as a novel approach providing access to a new class of kinetically controlled DNA materials with unprecedented life-like properties. So far, dissipative control has been achieved using DNA-recognizing enzymes as energy dissipating units. Although highly efficient, enzymes pose limits in terms of long-term stability and inhibition of enzyme activity by waste products. Herein, we provide the first example of kinetically controlled DNA nanostructures in which energy dissipation is achieved through a non-enzymatic chemical reaction. More specifically, inspired by redox signalling, we employ redox cycles of disulfide-bond formation/breakage to kinetically control the assembly and disassembly of tubular DNA nanostructures in a highly controllable and reversible fashion.
['Del Grosso|Erica|E|', 'Prins|Leonard J|LJ|0000-0001-6664-822X', 'Ricci|Francesco|F|0000-0003-4941-8646']
self-assembly DNA nanotechnology DNA structures nonequilibrium processes supramolecular chemistry