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A syringe delivering a fleet of DNA nanorobots to a cancer cell.
Building Biomolecular Machines
William Shih draws inspiration from origami and jigsaw puzzles in his quest to build bigger DNA nanorobots.
Building Biomolecular Machines
Building Biomolecular Machines

William Shih draws inspiration from origami and jigsaw puzzles in his quest to build bigger DNA nanorobots.

William Shih draws inspiration from origami and jigsaw puzzles in his quest to build bigger DNA nanorobots.

DNA nanotechnology

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Coming Into the Fold: DNA Origami
Danielle Gerhard, PhD | Dec 4, 2023 | 9 min read
In 2006, Paul Rothemund transformed the field of DNA nanotechnology when he unveiled an innovative approach for making shapes and patterns from genetic material.
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Revolutionary Crystallographer Ned Seeman Dies at 75
Lisa Winter | Dec 20, 2021 | 3 min read
Seeman is best known for establishing the field of DNA nanotechnology.
DNA Robots Target Cancer
Abby Olena, PhD | Feb 12, 2018 | 2 min read
Researchers use DNA origami to generate tiny mechanical devices that deliver a drug that cuts off the blood supply to tumors in mice.
The Biggest DNA Origami Structures Yet
Abby Olena, PhD | Dec 6, 2017 | 3 min read
Three new strategies for using DNA to generate large, self-assembling shapes create everything from a nanoscale teddy bear to a nanoscale Mona Lisa.
Twists and Turns
Mary Beth Aberlin | Jul 16, 2017 | 3 min read
New starring roles for nucleic acids
Contributors
The Scientist | Jul 16, 2017 | 3 min read
Meet some of the people featured in the July/August issue of The Scientist.
Building Nanoscale Structures with DNA
Arun Richard Chandrasekaran | Jul 16, 2017 | 10+ min read
The versatility of geometric shapes made from the nucleic acid are proving useful in a wide variety of fields from molecular computation to biology to medicine.
DNA Origami
The Scientist | Jul 16, 2017 | 1 min read
Will complex, folded synthetic DNA molecules one day serve as capsules to deliver drugs to cancer cells?
BIOMOD
The Scientist | Jun 30, 2015 | 1 min read
Scientist to Watch Shawn Douglas explains the annual competition he established to introduce students to molecular programming.
A Matter of Size
Scott McNeil | Aug 1, 2014 | 3 min read
Erroneous characterization of nanomaterials can misinform the study of a new medicine’s safety and efficacy.
Nanomedicine
Weihong Tan, Guizhi Zhu, and Lei Mei | Aug 1, 2014 | 9 min read
From bioimaging to drug delivery and therapeutics, nanotechnology is poised to change the way doctors practice medicine.
Some Assembly Required
Tracy Vence | Sep 3, 2013 | 1 min read
Researchers construct nanoscale DNA cages that could eventually be used to deliver drugs to target tissues.
DNA Machines Inch Forward
Sabrina Richards | Mar 5, 2013 | 5 min read
Researchers are using DNA to compute, power, and sense.
Buffering Against Alcohol
Dan Cossins | Feb 17, 2013 | 3 min read
Using a new assembly method, scientists have combined multiple enzymes in a polymer nanocapsule to reduce blood alcohol levels and liver damage in drunken mice.
 
DNA Bricks
Ruth Williams | Nov 29, 2012 | 3 min read
Researchers design and build nanoscale structures out of Lego-like DNA bricks.
Using DNA to Detect Dark Matter
Cristina Luiggi | Jul 5, 2012 | 2 min read
Particle physicists and biologists unite to answer one of the most puzzling questions of the universe: Does dark matter exist?
3-D Seer
Karen Hopkin | Aug 1, 2011 | 9 min read
Dissatisfied with the uncertainty of crystallography, Ned Seeman invented a new way of assembling the molecules that encompass the logic of life.
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