DNAnanoteknologia

DNAnanoteknologia, also known as DNA nanotechnology, is a field that uses DNA molecules as structural and functional components to build nanoscale materials and devices. The core principle relies on the predictable Watson‑Crick base pairing, which allows researchers to design DNA strands that self‑assemble into desired shapes through complementary interactions. Early milestones include the 1982 report of DNA tile self‑assembly and the 1991 demonstration of DNA origami, where a long single‑stranded scaffold is folded into complex 2D and 3D patterns by short staple strands. Other foundational techniques are DNA walkers, which move along a DNA track via strand displacement reactions, and DNA-based logic gates that perform Boolean operations using DNA hybridization and enzymatic strand cleavage.

Applications of DNAnanoteknologia span several domains. In medicine, DNA nanostructures serve as carriers for targeted drug delivery, biosensing platforms for nucleic acid and protein detection, and scaffolds that present therapeutic molecules in a precise spatial arrangement. In materials science, DNA can template the synthesis of metal nanoparticles, semiconductor nanowires, and 2D sheets with controlled geometry. In synthetic biology, DNA origami scaffolds guide the assembly of protein complexes and enzyme cascades, enabling new metabolic engineering strategies. Additional uses include programmable metamaterials and DNA‑based data storage, where information is encoded in nucleotide sequences.

Challenges remain in scaling production, ensuring stability in physiological conditions, and integrating DNA devices with conventional electronics. Ongoing research focuses on developing robust DNA polymerases and sequence‑invariant building blocks, as well as hybridizing DNA nanostructures with other polymers for improved mechanical properties. Collaborative efforts between chemists, biologists, and engineers continue to expand the utility and reliability of DNA nanotechnological devices.