DNA Information-Editing Tools for Reconfigurable Nanoparticle Architectures

Biological organisms have developed comprehensive machinery for organizing matter into structures with specific functions and for reconfiguring their states in response to external signals. Unlike biology, most nanomaterials remain static, unable to adapt, change or reconfigure in response to stimulation. Transforming materials into molecular machines requires a dynamic nature with precise activation mechanisms and behavior. DNA nanotechnology methods offer a powerful means of controlling matter at the nanoscale, especially when combined with other types of nanoparticles. However, there are no methods of orchestrating reconfiguration of these complex nanostructures. Herein we aim to unravel the principles for transforming static DNA-origami into dynamic material using CRISPR-Cas technology. Controlling and editing the DNA backbone using CRISPR-Cas sequence-editing, reconfiguration of the DNA scaffold will exert control over its covalent bonds, conformation, and states. As a proof of concept, we aim to create a DNA/nanoparticle lattice with reconfigurable d-spacings. Using Cas editing we aim to achieve supramolecular asymmetry in the DNA-crystal. This goal converges biological methods and nanotechnology, achieving precise and dynamic structures while applying specific-editing tools to manipulate biopolymer system (the DNA origami).