学家可能已经制造出了迄今为止最复杂的DNA“手工折纸”：仅为70纳米高的一个微型3维花瓶。
5年来，研究人员已经能够制造出DNA纳米结构，但大多数的形状都相当乏味，例如盒子或多边形，这是因为研究人员需要沿着DNA的格钉或“像素”进行折叠。
在4月14日发表于美国《科学》杂志网络版上的一篇论文中，研究人员描述了一种新的折纸技术，即用不同半径的DNA链形成的环形物。
研究人员将这些环形物堆叠起来，从而形成了基本的3维形状，随后嵌入“交叉点”使DNA链与毗邻的环混为一体，最终将这一结构连在一起。
他们希望这个花瓶——上图为一张原子力显微图像以及一张计算机生成图像——能够用于医学研究，例如将药物或酶投递到身体的特定部位。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐原文出处：
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1202998
DNA Origami with Complex Curvatures in Three-Dimensional Space
Dongran Han1,2,*, Suchetan Pal1,2, Jeanette Nangreave1,2, Zhengtao Deng1,2, Yan Liu1,2,*, and Hao Yan1,2,*
Abstract
We present a strategy to design and construct self-assembling DNA nanostructures that define intricate curved surfaces in three-dimensional (3D) space using the DNA origami folding technique. Double-helical DNA is bent to follow the rounded contours of the target object, and potential strand crossovers are subsequently identified. Concentric rings of DNA are used to generate in-plane curvature, constrained to 2D by rationally designed geometries and crossover networks. Out-of-plane curvature is introduced by adjusting the particular position and pattern of crossovers between adjacent DNA double helices, whose conformation often deviates from the natural, B-form twist density. A series of DNA nanostructures with high curvature—such as 2D arrangements of concentric rings and 3D spherical shells, ellipsoidal shells, and a nanoflask—were assembled.
