DNA nanorobots enable advanced therapeutic applications

The structure and morphology of cells play a crucial role in their biological functions, reflecting the "form follows function" principle. Adapting this principle to artificial cells poses challenges, but advances in DNA nanotechnology now allow the creation of transport channels large enough for therapeutic proteins to cross cell membranes.   

Laura Na Liu, Director of the 2nd Physics Institute at the University of Stuttgart and Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, has developed DNA nanorobots to control the shape and permeability of lipid bilayers. These bilayers, which form simplified models of biological membranes, are critical for studying dynamics such as protein interactions and lipid behavior.   

"This work is a milestone in the application of DNA nanotechnology to regulate cell behavior," says Prof. Laura Na Liu. Using DNA nanorobots, the team influenced the shape and functionality of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), which mimic living cells.   

The research demonstrates how reconfigurable DNA origami nanorobots can deform GUV membranes and create synthetic transport channels. These channels allow large molecules, including proteins and enzymes, to pass through and can be resealed as needed.   

Prof. Stephan Nussberger, a co-author of the study, explains, "This means that we can use DNA nanorobots to design the shape and configuration of GUVs to enable the formation of transport channels in the membrane." Unlike biological cells, these nanorobots function without direct biological equivalents, making them versatile tools for synthetic biology.   

The channels created by the DNA nanorobots facilitate the passage of therapeutic proteins into cells, with the ability to program their opening and closing. This system offers potential for improved delivery of medications and therapeutic enzymes. By mimicking the behavior of living cells, this approach opens new possibilities for disease research and drug delivery.  

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: University of Stuttgart