Forty-four years ago, Nadrian Seeman published his groundbreaking ideas on using DNA as a structural material, expanding DNA's significance far beyond its role as a carrier of genetic information. Since then, the steadily growing field of DNA nanotechnology has seen numerous innovations. One was the DNA origami technique, which enables researchers to fold a single long strand of DNA into a desired 2D or 3D shape.
The group of William Shih, Ph.D., at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) was the driving force in expanding the initial 2D DNA origami concept into 3D geometries. Their new self-assembly methods allowed them to build 3D multilayered DNA structures that are more stable, rigid and resilient against harsh chemical and biological environments.
DNA nanotechnologists quickly envisioned future devices like new vehicles for targeted drug delivery, autonomously functioning nanorobotic machines and ultra-precise electronic devices. A recent example, the Wyss Institute's DoriVac project, led by Shih, has used DNA origami to precisely organize vaccine components at the nanoscale to enhance immune activation against cancer.
However, Shih and other scientists hypothesized that pushing the envelope on the size and 3D complexity of DNA structures even further, while preserving the unique capabilities of DNA origami, could lead to DNA megastructures that could be applied to even more complex tasks.
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