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Updated: Dec 31, 2025
Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles
Published on: May 8, 2015
Light-Controlled, Toehold-Mediated Logic Circuit for Assembly of DNA Tiles
Chao Xing1,2, Ziyi Chen1, Junduan Dai1
1MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry , Fuzhou University , Fuzhou 350116 , P. R. China.
Abstract:
Inspired by cytoskeletal structures that respond sensitively to environmental changes and chemical inputs, we report a strategy to trigger and finely control the assembly of stimulus-responsive DNA nanostructures with light under isothermal conditions. The strategy is achieved via integrating an upstream light-controlled, toehold-mediated DNA strand displacement circuit with a downstream DNA tile self-assembly process. By rationally designing an upstream DNA strand module, we further transform the upstream DNA strand displacement circuit to an "AND gate" circuit to control the assembly of DNA nanostructures. This example represents the demonstration of the spatial and temporal assembly of DNA nanostructures using a noninvasive chemical input. Such a light-controlled DNA logic circuit not only adds a new element to the tool box of DNA nanotechnology but also inspires us to assemble complex and responsive nanostructures.
