Nanomaterials and DNA multistranded structures: a treasure hunt for targeting specific biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Biomaterials Science
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Nanomaterials offer unique properties but lack specific analyte recognition for sensing.
• DNA exhibits structural polymorphism and inherent molecular recognition capabilities.
• Combining DNA with nanomaterials creates advanced nanoarchitectures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in the association of DNA polymorphic forms with nanomaterials.
• To explore diverse applications of DNA-nanomaterial assemblies.
• To provide insights for interdisciplinary scientists on nano-fabrications using DNA structures.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific reports on DNA-nanomaterial conjugates.
• Analysis of studies focusing on various DNA secondary/multistranded structures.
• Compilation of applications in imaging, sensing, diagnostics, and targeted delivery.

Main Results:

• DNA's rigidity, programmability, and recognition properties are key for nanoarchitectures.
• Various DNA polymorphic structures (hairpin, duplex, G-quadruplex, etc.) can be conjugated with nanomaterials.
• DNA-nanomaterial assemblies enable novel assay platforms with enhanced functionalities.

Conclusions:

• The conjugation of DNA polymorphic forms with nanomaterials yields versatile platforms for advanced applications.
• This interdisciplinary approach opens new avenues in sensing, diagnostics, and targeted delivery.
• Understanding DNA's structural versatility is crucial for designing sophisticated nano-based systems.