Advances in Designer DNA Nanorobots Enabling Programmable Functions

Abstract

The advent of DNA nanotechnology has paved the way for the development of nanoscale robotics capable of executing smart and sophisticated tasks in a programmed and automatic manner. The programmability and customizable functionality of designer DNA nanorobots interfacing with biology would offer great potential for basic and applied research in the interdisciplinary fields of chemistry, biology, and medicine. This review aims to summarize the latest progress in designer DNA nanorobotics enabling programmable functions. We first describe the state‐of‐art engineering principles and the functional modules used in the rational design of a dynamic DNA nanorobot. Subsequently, we summarize the distinct types of DNA nanorobots performing sensing tasks, sensing‐and‐actuation, or continuous actuation, highlighting the versatility of designer DNA nanorobots in accurate biosensing, targeted drug delivery, and autonomous molecular operations to promote desired cellular behavior. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in the development of functional DNA nanorobotics for biomedical applications. We envision that significant progress in DNA‐enabled nanorobotics with programmable functions will improve precision medicine in the future.

A review on fabrication, actuation, and application of magnetic force driven, light driven and DNA nano/microrobots in modern theranostics

“…Several studies have reported the applications of DNA nano/microrobots in different theranostic fields such as biosensing, targeted drug delivery, and continuous molecular operations. 56 In one study, tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs) were fabricated. A TDNs-saline solution was applied as eye drops onto alkali-burned corneal epithelium and it was found that the TDNs-saline solution could regenerate the corneal epithelium and increase the corneal transparency in rabbits.…”

Advances in self-assembled Au-DNA nanomachines

“…The responsive modules are equipped to sense and respond to the target in the environment to motivate the execution of the actuator modules. 41 Inspired by the motion of biomolecules like myosin, 42 which is driven by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the actuator modules usually choose a driving force to propel the nanomachines. In parallel with the operation of nanomachines, the generator modules generate different types of signals directly or indirectly.…”

Ce-based solid-phase catalysts for phosphate hydrolysis as new tools for next-generation nanoarchitectonics

“…In terms of this concept, various nanomachines were already constructed [ 5 , 12–38 ]. They involve nanomotors [ 21–25 ], nanorobots [ 26 ], nanocarriers of drugs [ 27–30 ], DNA walkers [ 20 , 31–33 ], ultrasensitive sensors [ 35–38 ], and others. In a rolling motor, for example, a DNA-modified silica nanoparticle directionally moves on a gold plate which is covered by RNA monolayer [ 24 ].…”