Novel DNA robots designed for swarming into nonlinear amplification

A research team led by Prof. YANG Liangbao from the Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), proposed two conceptual models of intelligent DNA robots, which were capable of swarming into leakless nonlinear amplification in response to a trigger.

The results were published in Nanoscale Horizons recently.

Nonlinear DNA signal amplification is uniquely useful in nanotechnology and nanomedicine. However, progress in this direction is hampered by the lack of effective design models of building blocks.

In this research, two conceptual models were designed by innovating design principles in methodology and codifying the novel embedded programs for the first time.

The two models were composed of multifunctional manipulators, trigger validator, smart leak-resistant path controllers and automatic assembly motors. When they were exposed to a correct trigger, a cascade event would be initiated that resulted in swarming into nonlinear amplification by the embedded programs.

This research offered the new design blueprints for advanced signal amplifiers and intelligent targeted drug delivery platforms, facilitating their future applications in nanotechnology and nanomedicine.