Folding and cutting DNA into reconfigurable topological nanostructures

Area of Science:

• Molecular nanotechnology
• Supramolecular chemistry
• Topology

Background:

• Topology studies spatial properties preserved under deformation.
• Topological structures like catenanes and rotaxanes are found in nature and engineered synthetically.
• Fabricating complex, reconfigurable topological nanostructures remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the use of DNA origami for assembling topological nanostructures.
• To explore the reconfiguration of DNA-based topological structures.
• To introduce a novel DNA fold-and-cut strategy for molecular engineering.

Main Methods:

• Utilized DNA origami techniques to self-assemble a Möbius strip.
• Employed strand displacement reactions for reconfiguring the DNA Möbius strip.
• Applied a kirigami-inspired fold-and-cut strategy.

Main Results:

• Successfully assembled a DNA Möbius strip, a topological ribbon with one side.
• Demonstrated reconfiguration of the DNA Möbius strip into supercoiled rings and catenanes.
• Showcased the programmability of DNA origami for creating complex topological architectures.

Conclusions:

• DNA origami provides a versatile platform for constructing complex topological nanostructures.
• The demonstrated strand displacement and fold-and-cut strategies enable reconfiguration of molecular topologies.
• This approach offers unprecedented control for engineering programmable molecular machines and materials.