Bioinspired designer DNA NanoGripper for virus sensing and potential inhibition

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Molecular Engineering

Background:

• DNA's biocompatibility and nanoscale precision make it ideal for nanorobot construction.
• Existing nanorobots lack sophisticated grasping and sensing capabilities for complex biomedical tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, synthesize, and characterize a DNA nanorobotic hand (DNA NanoGripper) for biomedical applications.
• To demonstrate the NanoGripper's ability to capture nanoscale objects and detect viruses.

Main Methods:

• Utilized DNA self-assembly to create a nanorobot with a palm and four bendable fingers.
• Engineered fingers with rotatable joints and aptamer nanoswitches for specific binding and signal generation.
• Employed photonic crystal platforms and flow cytometry for detection and functional assays.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated the DNA NanoGripper's ability to capture gold nanoparticles, gold NanoUrchins, and SARS-CoV-2 virions.
• Developed a highly sensitive biosensor detecting SARS-CoV-2 in saliva with a limit of detection of ~100 copies/mL.
• Showed that the NanoGripper-aptamer complex can inhibit viral entry into host cells.

Conclusions:

• The DNA NanoGripper represents a sophisticated nanomachine for targeted capture and sensitive detection of viruses.
• This technology offers a promising platform for developing efficient solutions for virus infection detection and inhibition.