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Single-celled architects inspire new nanotechnology

Arizona State University scientists create diatom-like nanostructures using DNA origami, improving elasticity and durability. The method has far-reaching applications in optical systems, semiconductor nanolithography, and medical applications.

Breakthrough in controlling DNA-based robots

Researchers at Ohio State University have made a significant breakthrough in controlling DNA-based robots, reducing response time from several minutes to less than a second. This achievement represents the first direct real-time control of DNA-based molecular machines.

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Biophysics -- lighting up DNA-based nanostructures

Researchers use DNA-PAINT technique to visualize individual strands in DNA origami nanostructures, revealing the robustness of assembly and incorporation efficiency of staple strands. The results show that variations in structure formation speed have little influence on overall quality, but some sites remain unoccupied.

Imaging individual flexible DNA 'building blocks' in 3-D

Berkeley Lab researchers generate 3-D images of 129 DNA structures, revealing the dynamics and flexibility of DNA origami particles. The method used provides a new strategy for improving control over large DNA scaffolds by redesigning DNA sequences near joints to stiffen the structure.

Building miniature optical antennas using DNA as a guide

Aalto University researchers have developed a new method called DALI (DNA-assisted lithography) to fabricate precise metallic nanostructures with designed plasmonic properties. The technique uses self-assembled DNA origami shapes as 'stencils' to create millions of fully metallic nanostructures. These structures have intriguing optical...

Single-stranded DNA and RNA origami go live

Researchers have developed a novel approach to design complex single-stranded DNA and RNA origami that can autonomously fold into diverse, stable structures. This enables the production of large nanostructures at low cost and high purity, opening opportunities for applications in drug delivery and nanofabrication.

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The world's smallest Mona Lisa

Researchers at Caltech developed a method to assemble large DNA structures with customizable patterns, creating a 'canvas' that can display any image. They used fractal assembly to recreate the world's smallest Mona Lisa using DNA origami.

The main switch

Researchers at the University of Freiburg discover that DNA folding reorganization is a key switch for defining cell types during cardiomyocyte differentiation. The study reveals that spatial genome organization determines cellular identity and provides insights into future reprogramming strategies.

Precise chiral cluster assembly by design

Researchers develop a method for assembling colloidal clusters using origami DNA, allowing precise control over particle orientation and properties. The technique enables the creation of clusters with specified chirality, which could lead to improved understanding and utilization of particles with unique optical or magnetic properties.

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Origins of DNA folding suggested in archaea

A study published in Science reveals that archaeal DNA folding is identical to the process found in more complex organisms, suggesting an early prototype for the eukaryotic nucleosome. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origins of genome folding and raises questions about the common ancestor of life.

Programmable disorder

Scientists at Caltech have developed a method to combine deterministic and random processes for creating complex nanostructures out of DNA. By controlling the design of individual tiles and their interactions, they can produce emergent features with tunable statistical properties, including loop, maze, and tree structures.

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DNA origami lights up a microscopic glowing Van Gogh

Researchers at Caltech use DNA origami to precisely place glowing molecules within microscopic light resonators, creating a microscopic reproductions of Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night. By mapping out a checkerboard pattern of hot and cold spots, they can position fluorescent molecules to make lamps of varying intensity.

'Origami' is reshaping DNA's future

Researchers are using DNA origami to create large, two-dimensional honeycombs and tubes with precise structures. They aim to develop new medicines by exposing the immune system to DNA origami scaffolds holding virus pieces, and explore protein arrangements for sophisticated medicines and electronic devices.

Automating DNA origami opens door to many new uses

Researchers at MIT have developed an algorithm that can build complex DNA nanoparticles automatically, allowing for a broader range of applications in fields such as vaccine development and gene editing. The algorithm, known as DAEDALUS, can build any type of 3D shape with a closed surface, including shapes with holes.

Top-down design brings new DNA structures to life

A new method for designing geometric forms built from DNA has been developed, allowing for the creation of tiny structures in 2 and 3 dimensions. The technique, known as DNA origami, relies on a top-down strategy and can produce virtually any polyhedral shape.

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DNA 'origami' could help build faster, cheaper computer chips

Researchers are exploring DNA origami to create nanoscale structures for electronics, potentially leading to smaller, faster, and cheaper computer chips. The technique involves forming specific shapes in DNA to create three-dimensional structures that can be used as a scaffold for other materials.

Nanoscale rotor and gripper push DNA origami to new limits

Scientists at TUM create two new nanoscale machines with moving parts using DNA origami techniques, pushing the limits of programmable, self-assembling construction material. The rotor mechanism can swing freely or dwell in specified positions, while a hinged machine demonstrates precise placement of individual molecules.

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Using DNA origami to build nanodevices of the future

Scientists at Kyoto University developed an approach to assemble DNA origami units into larger structures by using a double layer of lipids. This method allows for more freedom of movement and interaction between origami structures, enabling them to form nanomachines such as nanomotors for targeted drug delivery

Rare form: Novel structures built from DNA emerge

Researchers have created complex nanoforms displaying arbitrary wireframe architectures using novel organizational principles. These structures include symmetrical lattice arrays, quasicrystalline patterns, and 3D objects with precise control over branching and curvature.

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Designer's toolkit for dynamic DNA nanomachines

Researchers at TUM have developed a new approach to joining modular 3D building units using shape complementarity, enabling practical nanomachines with moving parts. This breakthrough offers a toolkit for easy programming of self-assembly, paving the way for applications in DNA origami.

DNA origami could lead to nano 'transformers' for biomedical applications

Researchers at Ohio State University have designed DNA origami machines that can perform tasks repeatedly, using natural and synthetic DNA to mimic macroscopic machine design principles. The machines can detect signals, process information, and respond accordingly, opening the door for complex nano-robots in biomedical applications.

Researchers create world's largest DNA origami

The researchers created a new standard for large-scale DNA origami structures, enabling applications in biomedical research and nanoelectronics. The breakthrough involved developing a custom scaffold strand and cost-effective method for synthesizing staple strands.

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Scientists fold RNA origami from a single strand

Researchers create RNA origami structures by encoding folding recipes into single-strand RNAs, allowing for self-folding and organization of molecules on the nanoscale. The method has potential applications in cellular engineering, biochemical factories, and molecular scaffolds.

Roomy cages built from DNA

Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute created the largest standalone 3-D DNA structures using self-assembling DNA cages. The cages can be modified with chemical hooks to enclose contents, such as drugs or proteins, for potential medical applications.

Capturing ultrasharp images of multiple cell components at once

Scientists have developed a new DNA-based, super-resolution microscopy method called Exchange-PAINT that can visualize up to dozens of different biomolecules at once in a single cell. This allows for a more accurate understanding of complex cellular functions and potential new ways to diagnose disease.

Self-aligning DNA wires for application in nanoelectronics

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf develop a simpler method to align DNA nanostructures on surfaces, enabling the creation of self-aligned nanotubes with potential applications in electronic circuits. The technique uses electrostatic interactions and natural pattern formation to achieve alignment with high yield.

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Reality check for DNA nanotechnology

Scientists have made significant breakthroughs in DNA nanotechnology by removing obstacles to design processes. They demonstrated the first validation of subnanometer-scale positional control and discovered a method for rapid folding and high-yield production of complex DNA-based objects, similar to protein folding.

Under-twisted DNA origami delivers cancer drugs to tumors

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet developed a new technique using under-twisted DNA origami to deliver cancer drugs, such as doxorubicin, directly to tumor cells while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissue. This approach allows for slower release of the drug, enabling more effective treatment at lower concentrations.

DNA origami puts a smart lid on solid-state nanopore sensors

Researchers at TUM developed DNA origami 'gatekeepers' that can filter biomolecules by size, allowing selective detection of specific target molecules. The device combines solid-state nanopores with custom-designed DNA structures for enhanced single-molecule sensing capabilities.

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Powerful sequencing technology decodes DNA folding pattern

Researchers at Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research used powerful sequencing technology to investigate the three-dimensional structure of DNA folds in the nucleus. They found that DNA folds into local domains called topological domains, which are essential for gene regulation.

Nano spiral staircases modify light

Researchers have successfully built nano spiral staircases with tailored optical material from DNA, modifying light in specific ways. The findings confirm predictions and show promise for developing novel optical lens systems with negative refractive index.

DNA motor programmed to navigate a network of tracks

Researchers at Kyoto University and the University of Oxford have successfully constructed a DNA motor capable of navigating a programmable network of tracks with multiple switches. The breakthrough uses DNA origami technology, allowing for autonomous nanoscale devices to produce predictable outputs based on different starting conditions.

Finger (mal)formation reveals surprise function of desert DNA

Researchers at EPFL and University of Geneva uncover a genetic mechanism that modulates gene activity through seven enhancers, leading to diversity in finger shapes. This discovery could help understand hereditary malformations and evolutionary variations in the animal kingdom.

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DNA origami

Duke University researchers have developed a reusable DNA chip that can synthesize multiple batches of DNA building blocks and fold them into unique nanostructures. They successfully reused the chip tens of times without significant degradation, paving the way for applications in synthetic biology, drug delivery, and nanotechnology.

MIT: Advances in DNA 'origami'

A team at MIT led by Mark Bathe has developed software to predict the three-dimensional shape of complex DNA structures, making it easier to create nanoassembly technology. This advancement enables biologists, chemists, and materials scientists to design and build intricate shapes using DNA without extensive expertise in DNA origami.

New DNA nanoforms take shape

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a method to construct arbitrary, two and three-dimensional shapes using DNA origami. The new technique allows for the creation of complex curvature in 3D nanostructures, enabling potential applications in ultra-tiny computing components and nanomedical devices.

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Spiders at the nanoscale: Molecules that behave like robots

Researchers have created autonomous molecular 'robots' made of DNA that can be programmed to follow a track, start, move, turn and stop. The development could lead to molecular systems used in medical therapeutic devices and reconfigurable robots.

NYU, Nanjing U. chemists create DNA assembly line

Researchers at NYU and Nanjing University have created a DNA-based assembly line that can efficiently produce novel materials on the nanoscale. The system uses three components: DNA origami, programmable cargo-donating devices, and a DNA walker, allowing for precise control over material creation.

Silver proves its mettle for nanotech applications

Researchers have developed a method to deterministically position silver nanoparticles onto self-assembling DNA scaffolds, paving the way for new biomedical applications and precise sensing operations. The study demonstrates the viability of using silver instead of gold nanoparticles in DNA-based architectures.

Nanoscience goes 'big'

Researchers have made a breakthrough in engineering nanoscale materials, enabling the creation of large-scale arrays of individual structures with precise locations. This discovery could lead to advancements in sensing, transistors, and other applications.

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Spelling B-Y-U with DNA

Researchers have created a new technology using DNA origami that can form tiny letters with multiple branching points, addressing the need for narrow features in nanoelectronics. The breakthrough could lead to the development of nanoscale devices with unprecedented capabilities.

How to spell B-Y-U with DNA

Researchers from Brigham Young University have successfully created a customized DNA origami technique to write the letters B-Y-U on an extremely small scale. This breakthrough enables the design of nanoscale shapes for electrical circuitry and the creation of inexpensive computer chips.

Nanoscale origami from DNA

Scientists at TUM and Harvard University have successfully programmed DNA to assemble into complex twisted and curved nanoscale shapes. The researchers report achieving precise control over the shape's curvature and twist, with potential applications in building miniaturized devices for biomedical applications.

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Caltech scientists control complex nucleation processes using DNA origami seeds

Researchers at Caltech have successfully created a system using DNA origami seeds that can direct the self-assembled growth of DNA tiles into precise forms. This breakthrough demonstrates unprecedented control over information-directed molecular self-assembly, paving the way for future applications in technology and materials science.

No-hands origami: New DNA self-assembly makes more complex structures, more easily

Paul Rothemund's 'scaffolded DNA origami' technique allows for 10-fold more complex shapes, including snowflakes and a map of the Americas, with minimal design expertise required. This approach breaks traditional rules for nanoscale fabrication with DNA, paving the way for potential applications in electronics and self-assembled devices.

DNA constraints control structure of attached macromolecules

Researchers control RNA structure by attaching DNA strands, allowing precise folding and manipulation of RNAs. The technique also enables reversible or irreversible changes to molecular shapes, offering programmability and potential applications in biological and non-biological systems.

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