Functional Nanopores Enabled with DNA

Abstract

Membrane‐spanning nanopores are used in label‐free single‐molecule sensing and next‐generation portable nucleic acid sequencing, and as powerful research tools in biology, biophysics, and synthetic biology. Naturally occurring protein and peptide pores, as well as synthetic inorganic nanopores, are used in these applications, with their limitations. The structural and functional repertoire of nanopores can be considerably expanded by functionalising existing pores with DNA strands and by creating an entirely new class of nanopores with DNA nanotechnology. This review outlines progress in this area of functional DNA nanopores and outlines developments to open up new applications.

DNA Origami – Lipid Membrane Interactions Defined at Single-Molecular Resolution

“…18 Combining DNA nanotechnology with lipid membranes can unlock considerable synergy as illustrated by a range of DNA nanostructures that can mimic cellular cytoskeletons and shape membranes into biologically unprecedented forms, 19–23 define lipid domains, 24 selectively label leaflets, 25, 26 measure membrane curvature, 27 fuse membrane bilayers, 28 spatially activate membrane proteins, 29, 30 tune endosomal uptake, 31 facilitate macrostructure assembly, 32, 33 and even help produce synthetic protocells. 34–37 In complementary approaches, DNA nanostructures can insert into lipid membranes to emulate the function of membrane proteins, including receptors, 38 nanopores, 39, 40 gated channels, 41 membrane force sensors, 42 and lipid flippases. 43 Designing bilayer-interacting DNA nanostructures hinges on attached hydrophobic anchors that insert into the lipid bilayer.…”

Nanoscale polymer discs, toroids and platelets: a survey of their syntheses and potential applications

“…278 For example, membrane nanopores enabled with DNA may well be realised using functional polymer toroids in the future. 249,279,280 Specifically for toroids, or ring-shaped polymer particles, the use of MPBs seems obvious. While this review focuses on self-assembly strategies, polymer nanorings can also be produced uniformly by grafting cyclic backbones with polymer sidechains.…”

Advances in miniaturized nanosensing platforms for analysis of pathogenic bacteria and viruses

“…Nanopores are high-throughput nanosensors that are based on construction of small holes (nanometer size) in biological or solid-state membranes that can electrically probe various analytes at the nanoscale level. 57–59 Nanopores are mainly categorized into biological, solid state, and hybrid nanopores based on the material used for pore self-assembly. 60,61 Such nanopore sensors are efficient analytical platforms, widely used for single-molecule analysis and sequencing of DNA.…”