Multi‐Mode Reconfigurable DNA‐Based Chemical Reaction Circuits for Soft Matter Computing and Control

Programming Non-Nucleic Acid Molecules into Computational Nucleic Acid Systems

Nucleic acid (NA) computation has been widely developed in the past years to solve kinds of logic and mathematic issues in both information technologies and biomedical analysis. However, the difficulty to integrate non-NA molecules limits its power as a universal platform for molecular computation. Here, we report a versatile prototype of hybridized computation integrated with both nucleic acids and non-NA molecules. Employing the conformationally controlled ligand converters, we demonstrate that non-NA molecules, including both small molecules and proteins, can be computed as nucleic acid strands to construct the circuitry with increased complexity and scalability, and can be even programmed to solve arithmetical calculations within the computational nucleic acid system. This study opens a new door for molecular computation in which all-NA circuits can be expanded with integration of various ligands, and meanwhile, ligands can be precisely programmed by the nuclei acid computation.

DNA Logic Circuits for Cancer Theranostics

Cancer diagnosis and therapeutics (theranostics) based on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and biomarkers has been an emerging approach for precision medicine. DNA nanotechnology dynamically controls the self-assembly of DNA molecules at the nanometer scale to construct intelligent DNA chemical reaction systems. The DNA logic circuit is a particularly emerging approach for computing within the DNA chemical systems. DNA logic circuits can sensitively respond to tumor-specific markers and the TME through logic operations and signal amplification, to generate detectable signals or to release anti-cancer agents. In this review, the fundamental concepts of DNA logic circuits are clarified, the basic modules in the circuit are summarized, and how this advanced nano-assembly circuit responds to tumor-related molecules, how to perform logic operations, to realize signal amplification, and selectively release drugs through discussing over 30 application examples, are demonstrated. This review shows that DNA logic circuits have powerful logic judgment and signal amplification functions in improving the specificity and sensitivity of cancer diagnosis and making cancer treatment controllable. In the future, researchers are expected to overcome the existing shortcomings of DNA logic circuits and design smarter DNA devices with better biocompatibility and stability, which will further promote the development of cancer theranostics.