Physical Society Colloquium

Three-Dimensional DNA Nanostructures: Loading and Selective Release of Cargo for Biological and Materials Applications

Hanadi Sleiman

Department of Chemistry
McGill University

Three-dimensional structures made of DNA hold the potential to encapsulate and release drugs, selectively encage nanomaterials, regulate the activity of proteins and assemble networks for catalysis and biomolecule crystallization. This talk will describe our research group's synthetic approaches to 3D-DNA structures, such as DNA cages and nanotubes. These can be accessed with a minimum number of DNA strands in excellent yields. Their geometry, size, single- and double-stranded forms, permeability and length can be deliberately varied. They can be dynamically switched to different internal volumes, and can be ‘opened’ or closed with specific DNA strands. The size-selective encapsulation of gold nanoparticles and small molecules within these host structures, and the release of this cargo when specific DNA strands are added will be shown. We will also describe the use of these cages for the anisotropic organization of hydrophobic units, thus defining new modes of protein-inspired interactions. These compact 3D-DNA structures can travel across the plasma membrane of a number of mammalian cells and result in efficient gene silencing. The molecules shown here represent a new class of selective cellular probes and drug delivery tools, and can assist the development of nucleic acid therapeutic routes.

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