Understanding DNA Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology has come a far way in the recent few years. It has been divided into a number of sub-categories. One such sub-category is DNA Nanotechnology which uses the specificity of the Watson-Crick base-pairing so as to construct well-defined structures out of DNA and other such nucleic acids. Simply put, nanotechnology is that branch of science that deals with those materials and their components that are well-structured.

In the earlier times, DNA nanotechnology efforts were utilized to make use of the duplex DNA as a static lattice. With the help of this, geometrical objects with three dimensions were created. In the latest technology, the DNA alone is not manipulated in such shapes. The researchers tried to use DNA to control the folding and the resulting structure of the RNA. The technology is being used to build supramolecular machines. These machines will have special working systems that would be governed by the twisted strands of DNA.

DNA nanotechnology employs branched motifs to these ends. With this new attempt, there has been considerable success in the field. The reason behind this success is that the DNA molecules have a sticky-ended association and this association occurs with high specificity.

This in turn leads to the creation of B-DNA. The branched DNA molecules that are stable are beneficial. This is because they permit to construct stick-figures as well as topological targets. This strategy has been used by the researchers to create Borromean rings and covalently bond DNA polyhedra knots.

DNA nanotechnology has also been used to construct a DNA nanomechanical device which is made by the combination of left-handed Z-DNA with right handed B-DNA. This device contains two DNA double twisted strands molecule that are inter-connected by a piece of DNA which can be changed into Z-DNA.

These DNA double crossover molecules consist of 2 DNA double helics which have parallel axis that are linked with Holliday-like crossovers.

The main motive of the DNA nanotechnology is the self-assembly of the periodic matter. The micron-sized two dimensional DNA arrays have been created in different motifs. In most cases, these arrays are periodic.

DNA is one of the most common building blocks used in the nanotechnology. DNA is also used to create ordered nanoscale structures with the help of controlled architectures. Also, in the case of fabricating microelectronic circuits DNA is looked upon as an effective and promising building block.

To put it in simple terms, molecular self-assemble uses the concepts of supramolecular chemistry which is causes the single-molecular components to arrange themselves in to some sensible and useful conformation. DNA nanotechnology is the banner under which this entire process takes place. New discoveries are likely to propel vistas of opportunities for nanofabrication at dimensions which are not established by the conventional mode of optical lithography.