Title:Construction of Artificial Cells Utilizing DNA Nanotechnology
Volume: 2
Issue: 3
Author(s): Shuang Liu, Chunjuan Zhang, Fan Yang, Zhenzhen Guo and Qiaoling Liu*
Affiliation:
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics,
College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, People’s Republic of China
Keywords:
Artificial cells, DNA nanotechnology, DNA nanostructures, functional nucleic acids, biosensors, drug carriers.
Abstract: Programmable DNA nanostructures are excellent modules for preparing artificial cells
with complex structures and functions. As a biocompatible building material, DNA nanostructures
can mimic cell components on the nanoscale and serve as artificial cell structural units, such as
membrane proteins, cytoskeleton, organelles, or even protocell models. The incorporation of DNA
strand displacement reactions and functional nucleic acids endowed artificial cells with the capability
of mimicking dynamic biological processes, such as molecular transportation, and signal transduction
pathways. Herein, we focus on the recent progress in the construction of artificial cells utilizing
DNA nanotechnology. DNA nanostructures used as cellular structural and functional units
are summarized, and the applications of DNA-based artificial cells as biosensors or smart drug carriers
are highlighted. We also discuss the perspective of DNA-based artificial cells, including the
challenges in designing smart artificial cells with controllable behavior and constructing artificial
cells with the cell-like function, as well as the opportunities of their potential applications.