DNA Functional Materials Assembled from Branched DNA: Design, Synthesis, and Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is recognized not only as a genetic molecule but also as a versatile building block for functional materials.
• Branched DNA, in particular, has emerged as a key component in synthesizing novel biomaterials due to its unique properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the progress of functional materials assembled from branched DNA.
• To categorize synthetic strategies for branched DNA building blocks and construction methods for DNA functional materials.
• To highlight diverse applications and future perspectives of branched DNA-based materials.

Main Methods:

• Review of synthetic strategies including base-pairing assembly and chemical bonding for branched DNA.
• Summary of construction strategies such as tile-mediated assembly, DNA origami, dynamic assembly, and hybrid assembly.
• Exploration of applications in diagnostics, protein engineering, drug/gene delivery, therapeutics, and cell engineering.

Main Results:

• Branched DNA can be synthesized via base-pairing or chemical bonding.
• Various assembly strategies (tile-mediated, origami, dynamic, hybrid) enable the construction of complex DNA functional materials.
• These materials demonstrate significant potential across multiple biomedical fields.

Conclusions:

• Branched DNA functional materials represent a rapidly advancing area within DNA nanotechnology.
• These materials hold promise for interdisciplinary advancements in chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering.
• Future development is expected to address real-world biological and medical needs.