The resulting creations can be turned into tiny containers to deliver drugs or find other applications.
Researchers at Duke University have engineered a new open-source program that can convert drawings or digital models into nanoscale sculptures made of DNA,The researchers explained in their statement that the resulting structures are more than mere nano-sculptures. They are creations that can be turned into tiny containers to deliver drugs, or molds for casting metal nanoparticles with specific shapes for solar cells, medical imaging, and other applications.
“There are four “letters,” or bases, in the genetic code of DNA, which pair up in a predictable way in our cells to form the rungs of the DNA ladder. It’s these strict base-pairing properties of DNA -- A with T, and C with G -- that the researchers have co-opted. By designing DNA strands with specific sequences, they can “program” the strands to piece themselves together into different shapes.
“If there are too few, or if they're in the wrong position, the structure won't form correctly,” Fu explained. “Before our software, theAlthough practical applications of the novel software in the lab or clinic may still be years away, Reif said “it's a big step forward in terms of automated design of novel three-dimensional structures.”
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