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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Gene-therapy Inspired Polycation Coating for Protection of DNA Origami Nanostructures
Published on: January 19, 2019
Gene-therapy Inspired Polycation Coating for Protection of DNA Origami Nanostructures
Yasaman Ahmadi1, Ivan Barisic2
1Molecular Diagnostics, Centre for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH; yasaman.ahmadi.fl@ait.ac.at.
Abstract:
DNA origami nanostructures hold an immense potential to be used for biological and medical applications. However, low-salt conditions and nucleases in physiological fluids induce denaturation and degradation of self-assembled DNA nanostructures. In non-viral gene delivery, enzymatic degradation of DNA is overcome by the encapsulation of the negatively charged DNA in a cationic shell. Herein, inspired by gene delivery advancements, a simple, one-step and robust methodology is presented for the stabilization of DNA origami nanostructures by coating them with chitosan and linear polyethyleneimine. The polycation coating efficiently protects DNA origami nanostructures in Mg-depleted and nuclease-rich media. This method also preserves the full addressability of enzyme- and aptamer-based functionalization of DNA nanostructures.
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