Accelerating DNA nanomotor by branched DNAzyme for ultrasensitive optical detection of thrombin

Although DNA assembly-based nanomachines or nanodevice have been intensively studied, the application of DNA nanomachines can be suffered from the slow kinetic of DNA assembly. Herein, we integrated a branched DNAzyme into synthetic DNA motors, thus significantly accelerating the operation of DNA motors. Compared with DNA motors built by a single DNAzyme, the branched DNAzyme DNA nanomotor has much faster operation features. For the application, it could detect as low as 100 fM thrombin within 45 min. The strategy endowed the DNA nanomotor a great potentiality to the analytical application in clinical diagnosis.