Assembly-Energetics-Control (AEC) Design Framework for Rotary DNA Nanomachines

Rotary DNA nanomachines harness programmable DNA assemblies to mimic biological motors that drive cellular energy conversion and mechanical force transmission. With structural designs and actuation mechanisms growing ever more varied, the field faces rising conceptual complexity. To address this, we introduce an engineering-inspired Assembly-Energetics-Control (AEC) design framework that classifies rotary DNA nanomachines along three independent axes: Assembly (+: Modular / -: Global), Energetics (+: Active / -: Passive), and Control (+: Autonomous / -: Nonautonomous). This triad captures the interplay among these dimensions and overall performance. By mapping representative examples across the AEC framework and identifying underexplored categories, it offers researchers clear guidance for creating rotary DNA nanomachines that truly achieve scalability, autonomy, and biocompatibility.