Advances in DNA nanostructures for pathogenic microorganisms

DNA, the genetic material of life, encodes genetic information for most organisms, including humans. Its unique double-helix structure and base-pairing rules not only provide the foundation for the transmission of genetic information, but also offer a natural molecular tool for nanomaterial construction. DNA nanostructures, composed of DNA, possess advantages such as controllable structures, simple assembly, easily modified, and excellent biocompatibility. These features make them highly promising for applications in tissue engineering and biomedicine, such as providing new strategies to combat infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Their tunable sizes and shapes enhance cellular uptake and tissue penetration of antimicrobial agents, improving cell-DNA nanostructures interactions and therapeutic efficacy against pathogenic microorganisms. Meanwhile, their programmable and unique spatial configuration allows precise arrangement of probes, and their compatibility with other detection strategies improves the detection efficiency and sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms and can block the pathways of pathogenic microorganisms into host cells. Furthermore, high drug-loading capacity and functional modification enable them to serve as carriers for various types of antimicrobial agents. These features position DNA nanostructures as key contributors to the detection, treatment, and prevention of pathogenic microorganisms, thereby supporting global public health security. Although numerous studies have demonstrated diverse successful applications of DNA nanostructures both in vitro and in vivo, substantial barriers still impede their translation into clinical use, particularly with regard to their employment in the treatment and prevention of pathogenic microorganisms. This review comprehensively introduces DNA nanotechnology, the advantages and limitations of DNA nanostructures, summarizes the progress and challenges of DNA nanostructures in the applications of pathogenic microorganisms, including detection, therapy, and prevention. Beside these, future perspectives are also discussed.