Bottom-Up Synthesis of Artificial Cells by DNA Nanotechnology

Artificial cells are synthetic systems that emulate lifelike behaviors through multilevel molecular architectures capable of sensing and processing information. The high programmability and structural designability of DNA make it one of the most powerful molecular tools for bottom-up artificial cell construction. This review systematically summarizes the expanding roles of DNA in artificial cells, ranging from transmembrane receptors and nanopores to internal reaction networks and cytoskeletal structures and liquid condensates, highlighting the structural and functional units of DNA, as well as its applications in hierarchical organization and communication with living cells. At the same time, we discuss the potential breakthroughs in DNA hybrid materials and nonequilibrium information processing for future artificial cell engineering.