Tunable DNA Origami Nanosensors for Detection of Multiscale Spatial Ion Concentration Gradients

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Ion gradients are crucial for cellular signaling and homeostasis.
• Conventional sensors lack tunability and spatial resolution for mapping ion gradients.
• Accurate mapping of ion gradients is essential for understanding biological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel DNA origami-based sensor for detecting sodium ion gradients.
• To achieve tunable sensitivity and high spatial resolution for ion gradient sensing.
• To explore the potential of DNA nanodevices in studying ion-mediated processes.

Main Methods:

• DNA origami nanotechnology was employed to create a sensor (NanoDyn).
• Programmable DNA base-pairing interactions were used to control sensor sensitivity and range.
• Fluorescence spectroscopy and a microfluidic gradient generator were utilized for validation.

Main Results:

• NanoDyn demonstrated programmable sensing ranges from ~100-1675 mM Na+.
• The sensor successfully resolved ion gradient changes over distances as small as ~6 μm.
• The DNA origami sensor showed high tunability and spatial resolution for ion gradient detection.

Conclusions:

• DNA nanodevices, like NanoDyn, offer a versatile platform for multiscale, tunable ion-gradient sensing.
• This technology advances biosensing capabilities for probing ion-mediated signaling in health and disease.
• The developed sensor expands the role of DNA nanodevices in spatial sensing applications.