Progress in "engineering up" nanotechnology devices utilizing DNA as a construction material

DNA technology is in the process of expanding into microelectronic applications. Due to its unique recognition capabilities, physicochemical stability, and mechanical rigidity, DNA is a promising construction material for frameworks, for example, for the selective positioning of molecular devices. For example, based on the hybridization of DNA oligomers, nanocrystal metal clusters can be assembled to supramolecular aggregates. Further applications include the generation of multifunctional constructs, as well as macroscopic and nano-scaled arrays or scaffolds based on DNA. The latter might be used in the preparation of high-resolution matrices for construction of chips to attain circuit sizes below 100 nm. The fabrication of periodic frameworks or individual geometric objects from DNA is empowered by the convenient accessibility of modular building blocks - as branched, double-stranded nucleic acid molecules - prepared from synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides by self-assembly. Design and strategies for the synthesis of nucleic acid-based nanostructures are discussed.