DNA origami: a history and current perspective

Researchers have been using DNA for the rational design and construction of nanoscale objects for nearly 30 years. Recently, ‘scaffolded DNA origami’ has emerged as one of the most promising assembly techniques in DNA nanotechnology with a broad range of applications. In the past two years alone, DNA origami has been used to assemble water-soluble probe tiles for label-free RNA hybridization, to study single-molecule chemical reactions, to probe distance-dependent multivalent ligand–protein binding effects, and to organize a variety of relevant molecules including proteins, carbon nanotubes, and metal nanoparticles. This review will recount the origin, evolution, and current status of this extremely versatile assembly technique.