DNA-Based Dissipative Assembly toward Nanoarchitectonics

Abstract

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) represents an important class of molecular building blocks for the assembly of supramolecular functional systems primarily due to its molecular recognition capability and sequence programmability. Eventually, DNA-based nanostructures are assembled in a way that their states remain at the thermodynamic minimum of the energy. However, active life-like functions and their interactive adaption require the integration of energy away from thermodynamic equilibrium. The construction of DNA-based artificial systems was often inspired by the naturally occurring dissipative assembly processes, which leads to the consumption of energy to maintain the thermodynamically non-equilibrium state. In this review, the recent progress of the fabrications and properties of DNA-based dissipative assembly systems toward nanoarchitectonics is summarized. It focuses on the principle of dissipative assembly and shows some pioneering examples of DNA-based dissipative assembly systems. The latest corresponding perspectives are also proposed.