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Updated: Jul 28, 2025

Plasmid-derived DNA Strand Displacement Gates for Implementing Chemical Reaction Networks
Published on: November 25, 2015
Principles of nucleic acid toehold mediated strand displacement (TMSD) reaction model and its applications in cell
Linlin Tang1, Tao Luo1, Sisi Fan1
1Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. sjie@sjtu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Programmable modular reaction, combined with excellent biocompatibility, has endowed biological circuits based on the nucleic acid TMSD (toehold-mediated strand displacement) reaction with great potential for bioanalysis and biomedical research. In this review, we summarize recent research on the principles of TMSD reaction and its applications in the cell environment. Based on the basic reaction units of the TD (toehold displacement) reaction, TE (toehold exchange) reaction, and CD (cooperation displacement) reaction, different reaction models could be obtained through the recombination of the basic reaction units. We highlight the successful development of the application of TMSD reaction for cell recognition, targeted therapy, molecular sensing and imaging and gene manipulations in the cell environment. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future opportunities of TMSD reaction for cellular applications.
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