Enzyme-Powered Three-Dimensional DNA Nanomachine for DNA Walking, Payload Release, and Biosensing

A Both-End Blocked Peroxidase-Mimicking DNAzyme for Low-Background Chemiluminescent Sensing of miRNA

G-quadruplex DNAzymes that exhibited peroxidase-like activity have been shown to be appealing reporters for amplified readout of biosensing events simply by their formation or dissociation in the presence of analytes. For low background signaling, the efficient preblock of DNAzymes is critically important. Herein, we report a both-end blocked DNAzyme beacon strategy for chemiluminescent biosensing. The catalytic activity of peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme can be inactivated fully by fixing both ends of the DNAzyme sequence, and easily recovered via a strand displace reaction between the miRNA and the block DNA. The efficient block and recovery of DNAzymes provide the both-end blocked beacon the highest signal-to-background ratio (over 25) among the reported DNAzymes for amplification-free detection of miRNA. As a result, the beacon allowed detection of subpicomolar miRNA without any labeling and amplification procedures, which is about 40-fold more sensitive than the traditional hairpin fluorescence beacon. Also, it exhibited excellent discrimination ability that can distinguish single-base mismatch miRNA. The simplicity, high sensitivity, and selectivity provided by the beacon make it a promising alternative tool for nucleic acid detection.

Binding-induced DNA walker for signal amplification in highly selective electrochemical detection of protein

A binding-induced DNA walker-assisted signal amplification was developed for highly selective electrochemical detection of protein. Firstly, the track of DNA walker was constructed by self-assembly of the high density ferrocene (Fc)-labeled anchor DNA and aptamer 1 on the gold electrode surface. Sequentially, a long swing-arm chain containing aptamer 2 and walking strand DNA was introduced onto gold electrode through aptamers-target specific recognition, and thus initiated walker strand sequences to hybridize with anchor DNA. Then, the DNA walker was activated by the stepwise cleavage of the hybridized anchor DNA by nicking endonuclease to release multiple Fc molecules for signal amplification. Taking thrombin as the model target, the Fc-generated electrochemical signal decreased linearly with logarithm value of thrombin concentration ranging from 10pM to 100nM with a detection limit of 2.5pM under the optimal conditions. By integrating the specific recognition of aptamers to target with the enzymatic cleavage of nicking endonuclease, the aptasensor showed the high selectivity. The binding-induced DNA walker provides a promising strategy for signal amplification in electrochemical biosensor, and has the extensive applications in sensitive and selective detection of the various targets.

Universal ratiometric electrochemical biosensing platform based on mesoporous platinum nanocomposite and nicking endonuclease assisted DNA walking strategy

The occurrence and development of many complex diseases are associated with various molecules, whose contents are rarely in the early stage of the disease. Thus a universal platform for the ultrasensitive detection of multilevel biomarkers should be developed. In this study, we introduced an electrochemical biosensing system based on nicking endonuclease (Nt.BbvCI) assisted DNA walking strategy. We successfully constructed a universal signal-off-on ratiometric electrochemical biosensor for various biomolecules, including small molecules, nucleic acids, and proteins, by progressively optimizing the schematics (schemes 1, 2, and 3). The MB-hairpin probes (MB-HPs) acted as a signal-off probe, and nanocomposites (MPNs@DOX@DNA2) acted as a conventional signal-on probe (scheme 3). With the aid of the MPNs@DOX@DNA2 and Nt.BbvCI assisted DNA walking mechanism, the designed ratiometric electrochemical biosensor showed a high sensitivity and broad detection range. In addition, the proposed method can be utilized to detect diverse targets quantitatively by changing the sequence of aptamers under optimum experimental conditions. Furthermore, it has been widely proved to realize well-accepted signal response in identifying complex samples, thereby resulting in an wide prospect for bioanalysis and clinical diagnosis.

Electrochemiluminescence Biosensor Based on 3-D DNA Nanomachine Signal Probe Powered by Protein-Aptamer Binding Complex for Ultrasensitive Mucin 1 Detection

Herein, we fabricated a novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of mucin 1 (MUC1) based on a three-dimensional (3-D) DNA nanomachine signal probe powered by protein-aptamer binding complex. The assembly of 3-D DNA nanomachine signal probe achieved the cyclic reuse of target protein based on the protein-aptamer binding complex induced catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA), which overcame the shortcoming of protein conversion with enzyme cleavage or polymerization in the traditional examination of protein. In addition, CoFe₂O₄, a mimic peroxidase, was used as the nanocarrier of the 3-D DNA nanomachine signal probe to catalyze the decomposition of coreactant H₂O₂ to generate numerous reactive hydroxyl radical OH^• as the efficient accelerator of N-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) (ABEI) ECL reaction to amplify the luminescence signal. Simultaneously, the assembly of 3-D DNA nanomachine signal probe was executed in solution, which led to abundant luminophore ABEI be immobilized around the CoFe₂O₄ surface with amplified ECL signal output since the CHA reaction was occurred unencumberedly in all directions under homogeneous environment. The prepared ECL biosensor showed a favorable linear response for MUC1 detection with a relatively low detection limit of 0.62 fg mL^-1. With excellent sensitivity, the strategy may provide an efficient method for clinical application, especially in trace protein determination.

A microRNA-initiated DNAzyme motor operating in living cells

Synthetic DNA motors have great potential to mimic natural protein motors in cells but the operation of synthetic DNA motors in living cells remains challenging and has not been demonstrated. Here we report a DNAzyme motor that operates in living cells in response to a specific intracellular target. The whole motor system is constructed on a 20 nm gold nanoparticle (AuNP) decorated with hundreds of substrate strands serving as DNA tracks and dozens of DNAzyme molecules each silenced by a locking strand. Intracellular interaction of a target molecule with the motor system initiates the autonomous walking of the motor on the AuNP. An example DNAzyme motor responsive to a specific microRNA enables amplified detection of the specific microRNA in individual cancer cells. Activated by specific intracellular targets, these self-powered DNAzyme motors will have diverse applications in the control and modulation of biological functions.

Synthetic DNA nanomachines have been designed to perform a variety of tasks in vitro. Here, the authors build a nanomotor system that integrates a DNAzyme and DNA track on a gold nanoparticle, to facilitate cellular uptake, and apply it as a real-time miRNA imaging tool in living cells.

Exploiting molecular motors as nanomachines: the mechanisms of de novo and re-engineered cytoskeletal motors

Cytoskeletal molecular motors provide exciting proof that nanoscale transporters can be highly efficient, moving for microns along filamentous tracks by hydrolyzing ATP to fuel nanometer-size steps. For nanotechnology, such conversion of chemical energy into productive work serves as an enticing platform for re-purposing and re-engineering. It also provides a roadmap for successful molecular mechanisms that can be mimicked to create de novo molecular motors for nanotechnology applications. Here we focus specifically on how the mechanisms of molecular motors are being re-engineered for greater control over their transport parameters. We then discuss mechanistic work to create fully synthetic motors de novo and conclude with future directions in creating novel motor systems.

An enzyme-free DNA walker that moves on the surface of functionalized magnetic microparticles and its biosensing analysis

An enzyme-free stochastic DNA walker propelled by a single catalytic or double catalytic DNA assembly has been constructed.

DNA-based nanoscale walking devices and their applications

Herein we review DNA-based nanoscale walking devices including unipedal, bipedal, multipedal, and other novel walking devices and their applications.

A catalytic assembled enzyme-free three-dimensional DNA walker and its sensing application

A novel and enzyme-free three-dimensional DNA walker powered by catalytic assembly has been constructed.

A DNA nanoswitch-controlled reversible nanosensor

We present a conceptually new reversible nanosensor regulated by a DNA nanoswitch. This system is not only responsive to external stimuli (e.g. ATP) but also can be reversibly switched between ‘OFF’ and ‘ON’ states via toehold mediated strand displacement reactions. It functions like a molecular net woven by DNA to capture or release the target molecules. As a proof-of-principle experiment, ATP is here chosen as the model to demonstrate our new strategy, which holds great promise for applications such as switchable DNA nanomachines and nanocarriers for drug delivery.

Enzyme Catalysis To Power Micro/Nanomachines

Enzymes play a crucial role in many biological processes which require harnessing and converting free chemical energy into kinetic forces in order to accomplish tasks. Enzymes are considered to be molecular machines, not only because of their capability of energy conversion in biological systems but also because enzymatic catalysis can result in enhanced diffusion of enzymes at a molecular level. Enlightened by nature's design of biological machinery, researchers have investigated various types of synthetic micro/nanomachines by using enzymatic reactions to achieve self-propulsion of micro/nanoarchitectures. Yet, the mechanism of motion is still under debate in current literature. Versatile proof-of-concept applications of these enzyme-powered micro/nanodevices have been recently demonstrated. In this review, we focus on discussing enzymes not only as stochastic swimmers but also as nanoengines to power self-propelled synthetic motors. We present an overview on different enzyme-powered micro/nanomachines, the current debate on their motion mechanism, methods to provide motion and speed control, and an outlook of the future potentials of this multidisciplinary field.

Two-wheel drive-based DNA nanomachine and its sensing potential for highly sensitive analysis of cancer-related gene

With the biological significance and important advances of nano-scale DNA devices, scientific activities have been directed toward developing molecular machinery. In this work, we present a novel two-wheel drive-based DNA nanomachine composed of one signaling recognition probe (SRP), one label-free recognition probe (LRP), and one driving primer (DP). Target DNA hybridization can activate LRP-based wheel driving by resorting to DP-mediated polymerization/nicking/displacement cycles. This in turn results in the accumulation of nicked strand 1 (NS1) that can initiate extended SRP-based wheel driving. As a result, the hairpin structure of SRP is stretched and pre-quenched fluorescence is restored. Meanwhile, lots of nicked strand 2 (NS2) are produced, which could hybridize perfectly with SRP and lead to further fluorescence amplification. It is worth noting that, because the nanomachine operation relies strongly on inputted target trigger, the unwanted background is completely eliminated. The detection limit of 1 pM and an excellent capability to recognize the single-base mutation were achieved. Significantly, the interrogating of target trigger extracted from cancer cells is already available, reflecting the potential for practical applications. As a proof-of-concept building, the unique analytical properties would significantly benefit the DNA nanomachines and reveal great promise in biochemical and biomedical studies.