title: A DNA origami nanorobot controlled by nucleic acid hybridization.
abstract: A prototype for a DNA origami nanorobot is designed, produced, and tested. The cylindrical nanorobot (diameter of 14 nm and length of 48 nm) with a switchable flap, is able to respond to an external stimulus and reacts by a physical switch from a disarmed to an armed configuration able to deliver a cellular compatible message. In the tested design the robot weapon is a nucleic acid fully contained in the inner of the tube and linked to a single point of the internal face of the flap. Upon actuation the nanorobot moves the flap extracting the nucleic acid that assembles into a hemin/G-quadruplex horseradish peroxidase mimicking DNAzyme catalyzing a colorimetric reaction or chemiluminescence generation. The actuation switch is triggered by an external nucleic acid (target) that interacts with a complementary nucleic acid that is beard externally by the nanorobot (probe). Hybridization of probe and target produces a localized structural change that results in flap opening. The flap movement is studied on a two-dimensional prototype origami using Förster resonance energy transfer and is shown to be triggered by a variety of targets, including natural RNAs. The nanorobot has potential for in vivo biosensing and intelligent delivery of biological activators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Udine, via delle Scienze 206, 33100, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Torelli
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmano
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piantanida
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polano
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarpellini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazzarino
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Firrao
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D003124:Colorimetry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D021881:DNA, Catalytic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D006427:Hemin; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D049449:Luminescence; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012371:Robotics
chemical_list: D021881:DNA, Catalytic; D006427:Hemin; D004247:DNA; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase
keywords: DNA origami; DNAzyme-based sensors; hemin/G-quadruplex; nanorobots; switchable nanodevices