DNA Origami: Structures, Technology, and Applications

Discover the impact and multidisciplinary applications of this subfield of DNA nanotechnology

DNA origami refers to the technique of assembling single-stranded DNA template molecules into target two- and three-dimensional shapes at the nanoscale. This is accomplished by annealing templates with hundreds of DNA strands and then binding them through the specific base-pairing of complementary bases. The inherent properties of these DNA molecules―molecular recognition, self-assembly, programmability, and structural predictability―has given rise to intriguing applications from drug delivery systems to uses in circuitry in plasmonic devices.

The first book to examine this important subfield, DNA Origami brings together leading experts from all fields to explain the current state and future directions of this cutting-edge avenue of study. The book begins by providing a detailed examination of structural design and assembly systems and their applications. As DNA origami technology is growing in popularity in the disciplines of chemistry, materials science, physics, biophysics, biology, and medicine, interdisciplinary studies are classified and discussed in detail. In particular, the book focuses on DNA origami used for creating new functional materials (combining chemistry and materials science; DNA origami for single-molecule analysis and measurements (as applied in physics and biophysics); and DNA origami for biological detection, diagnosis and therapeutics (medical and biological applications).

DNA Origami readers will also find:

• A complete guide for newcomers that brings together fundamental and developmental aspects of DNA origami technology
• Contributions by a leading team of experts that bring expert views from different angles of the structural developments and applications of DNA origami
• An emerging and impactful research topic that will be of interest in numerous multidisciplinary areas
• A helpful list of references provided at the end of each chapter to give avenues for further study

Given the wide scope found in this groundbreaking work, DNA Origami is a perfect resource for nanotechnologists, biologists, biophysicists, chemists, materials scientists, medical scientists, and pharmaceutical researchers.

Masayuki Endo, PhD, is a project professor at Kansai University and a guest professor at Kyoto University, Japan. He received his PhD from the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo in 1997. Prof. Endo’s research work involves DNA nanotechnology and single-molecule analysis.