Light-responsive DNA nanostructures

DNA is ideally suited for designing dynamic nanostructures that are reconfigured by external stimuli. One of these stimuli - light - has been used to control DNA nanostructures by the incorporation of light-responsive linkers into DNA strands. Light responsiveness adds to the already rich repertoire of functional properties of DNA nanostructures, including homogenous size, biocompatibility and programmability. Developments in the chemical synthesis of various light-responsive moieties and their incorporation into oligonucleotides have helped to create a library of DNA nanostructures with controlled reconfiguration, high thermal stability, enhanced nuclease resistance and triggered detachment of guest molecules. With these light-responsive features, DNA nanostructures are useful in applications such as diagnostics, drug delivery, data storage, plasmonics and site-directed reactions. In this Review, we discuss the emerging research trends in light-responsive DNA nanostructures, with specific focus on the types of light-responsive functional groups available for incorporation into DNA, strategies used to design and construct light-responsive DNA nanostructures, and their applications.