Design principles for construction of DNA-based nanostructures

Abstract

DNA nanotechnology, a cutting-edge field that constructs sophisticated DNA-based nanostructures by harnessing the unparalleled programmability of DNA, has evolved into a powerful tool for applications in therapy, biosensing, logic computation, and more. This review outlines the fundamental strategies for constructing DNA nanostructures, beginning with the design of basic building blocks such as small, symmetric tiles (e.g., DX and TX tiles, point star motifs, T-junctions), and extending to more complex, addressable scaffolds like DNA origami and single-stranded tile (SST) structures. Furthermore, it surveys extended arrays (1D/2D arrays, nanotubes, 3D crystals) formed through motif association, while introducing the computational potential of algorithmic self-assembly and the properties of DNA-based aggregates (hydrogels, liquid–liquid phase separation systems). The design and construction logic of DNA nanostructures, spanning from static to dynamic systems and from microscopic to macroscopic scales, is also elucidated.