DMI/MEMS Seminar Presented by Prof. Carlos Castro

Title: Nanomechanical DNA devices to program collective dynamics and interrogate biomolecules
Abstract: Structural DNA nanotechnology is an emerging field with exciting potential for applications such as single molecule sensing, drug delivery, imaging, and biophysical measurements. DNA nanodevices are particularly well-suited to interface with and manipulate biomolecules in vitro and in vivo because of the ability precisely design nanodevice geometry, functionalization (e.g. with interactions sites for biomolecules), and dynamic and mechanical properties. Our laboratory focuses on two key areas of DNA nanotechnology: 1) design of multi-component and multi-device assemblies that can carry out robotic functions like sensing and responding to the environment; and 2) leveraging these capabilities to design DNA devices that can interface with and probe biomolecular complexes. I will highlight our recent work on advancing design methods for multi-component assemblies and realizing cooperative functions, like shape changes or adaptive mechanical properties, that emerge from the behaviors and interactions of many dynamic devices. I will also highlight recent work in delivering DNA nanodevices into living cells. We recently developed methods to leverage a piggybacking approach to deliver DNA origami nanostructures to live cell nuclei, where antibody labeled DNA nanostructures target an RNA polymerase in the cytoplasm, and then they are trafficked to the nucleus along with the polymerase. Moving forward we aim to use these devices as tools to probe and control molecular processes in living cells and deliver molecular payloads such as genes or other medicines.