Precision fabrication of polymer nanostructures on recyclable DNA template

The fabrication of precisely patterned polymers at the nanoscale is of critical importance. We have previously succeeded in creating various nanopatterned polymers with nanoscale resolution through the use of in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) techniques on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) origami. However, separating nanopatterned polymers from the origami template without damaging the origami presents a significant challenge, thereby increasing costs and limiting the development of applications involving nanopatterned polymers. Here, we achieved spatially and temporally controlled release of DNA origami templates through photo-regulation by incorporating azobenzene-modified DNA into the initiator. Under UV exposure, azobenzene isomerization rapidly induces the disassociation of patterned polymers from the origami template at ambient temperatures, without damaging the DNA origami. Additionally, the released origami template can be reused as a template for the cyclic production of nanopatterned polymers. This method provides a pathway for the large-scale production of patterned polymers at reduced costs and facilitates dynamic control over the polymer-DNA complex, with potential applications in both the biomedical and chemical fields.