DNA nanostructures: a shift from assembly to applications

• Review of recent advances in DNA nanostructure self-assembly and delivery.
• Nanostructures assembled by synchronized hybridization chain reactions.
• No consensus on uptake of nanostructures into cells due to experimental variation.
• Encapsulation of DNA octahedra in lipid vesicles protects structure from nucleases.

The specificity of DNA hybridization allows for the modular design of 2D and 3D shapes with wide-ranging applications including sensors, actuators, and even logic devices. The inherent biocompatibility of DNA and the ability to produce monodisperse structures of controlled shape and size make DNA nanostructures of interest as potential drug and gene delivery vehicles. In this review, we discuss several new approaches for the assembly of DNA nanostructures, advances in the modeling of these structures, and we highlight recent studies on the use of DNA nanotechnology for therapeutic applications such as drug delivery in tumor models.

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