DNA Origami: Structures, Technology, and Applications

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).