Cited by 1,292Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniquesDNA and Biological ComputingSupramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials

Challenges and opportunities for structural DNA nanotechnology

Open access
Pinheiro, Andre V., Han, Dongran, Shih, William M., Yan, Hao·2011·Nature Nanotechnology

Abstract

DNA molecules have been used to build a variety of nanoscale structures and devices over the past 30 years, and potential applications have begun to emerge. But the development of more advanced structures and applications will require a number of issues to be addressed, the most significant of which are the high cost of DNA and the high error rate of self-assembly. Here we examine the technical challenges in the field of structural DNA nanotechnology and outline some of the promising applications that could be developed if these hurdles can be overcome. In particular, we highlight the potential use of DNA nanostructures in molecular and cellular biophysics, as biomimetic systems, in energy transfer and photonics, and in diagnostics and therapeutics for human health.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/nnano.2011.187

Cites

153 of 153 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The growing field of DNA (and RNA) origami provides many examples of compartments assembled from nucleic acids.

    “The growing field of DNA (and RNA) origami provides many examples of compartments assembled from nucleic acids (for reviews, see Pinheiro et al. 2011;Hong et al. 2017).”

    From Protocells and RNA Self-Replication (2018) · cites this paper as Pinheiro et al. 2011

    The paper’s discussion of three-dimensional DNA origami (section labeled Abstract; page unavailable) describes hollow cages and container-shaped structures, supporting the DNA-compartment portion of the claim. Its “Expression and assembly in vivo” section discusses RNA nanostructures but does not give examples of RNA-origami compartments, so the parenthetical extension to RNA is not supported by this source. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • DNA nanotechnology leverages the molecular recognition motifs of nitrogenous bases to create arbitrary two- and three-dimensional structures from the self-assembly of user-defined DNA strands.

    “DNA nanotechnology leverages the unparalleled molecular recognition motifs of the nitrogenous bases to create arbitrary two- and three-dimensional structures from the self-assembly of user-defined DNA strands.”

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Cites

1 retracted

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [114]Aldaye FA Sleiman HF Modular access to structurally switchable 3D discrete DNA assemblies J. Am. Chem. Soc 2007 129 13376 13377 17939666

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Authors
Pinheiro, A. V., Han, D., Shih, W. M., & Yan, H.
Affiliations
  • Arizona State University (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Shih, William M.
  • Yan, Hao
Venue
Nature Nanotechnology
Published
2011-11-06
Volume
6
Issue
12
Pages
763-772
ISSN
  • 1748-3387 (ISSN-L)
  • 1748-3395
OpenAlex
W2077850544
Cited by
1,292
References
153
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 65 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 84 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 96 · 2018: 118 · 2017: 122 · 2016: 112 · 2015: 110 · 2014: 110 · 2013: 134 · 2012: 57
FWCI
8.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Nanotechnology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Energy (DESC0001016)
  • Arizona State University
  • Hansjörg Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University
  • Office of Naval Research
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM088818)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA and Biological Computing
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
Keywords
DNA nanotechnology, DNA nanostructures, molecular biophysics, cellular biophysics, biomimetic systems, energy transfer, photonics, diagnostics, therapeutics
MeSH terms
DNA, Humans, Nucleic Acid Conformation, Nanotechnology, Biomimetic Materials, Nanostructures

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