Transient DNA-Based Nanostructures Controlled by Redox Inputs

Synthetic DNA has emerged as a powerful self-assembled material for the engineering of nanoscale supramolecular devices and materials. Recently dissipative self-assembly of DNA-based supramolecular structures has emerged as a novel approach providing access to a new class of kinetically controlled DNA materials with unprecedented life-like properties. So far, dissipative control has been achieved using DNA-recognizing enzymes as energy dissipating units. Although highly efficient, enzymes pose limits in terms of long-term stability and inhibition of enzyme activity by waste products. Herein, we provide the first example of kinetically controlled DNA nanostructures in which energy dissipation is achieved through a non-enzymatic chemical reaction. More specifically, inspired by redox signalling, we employ redox cycles of disulfide-bond formation/breakage to kinetically control the assembly and disassembly of tubular DNA nanostructures in a highly controllable and reversible fashion.