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Spinning nanomotor with a DNA clutch

Nature Nanotechnology (2024)Cite this article

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An encodable DNA clutch with the ability to recognize microenvironmental molecular inputs intelligently complements the remote control of a 200-nm sized magnetic nanomachine. This nanomachine interacts with biological machinery in vitro when the encoded clutch selectively engages the engine with the rotor while external magnetic fields power the rotation.

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Fig. 1: Design of a nanomotor with a clutch.

References

  1. Blair, K. M., Turner, L., Winkelman, J. T., Berg, H. C. & Kearns, D. B. A molecular clutch disables flagella in the Bacillus subtilis biofilm. Science 320, 1636–1638 (2008). An article that reports the clutch mechanism in the motor of bacterial flagella.

  2. Pumm, A.-K. et al. A DNA origami rotary ratchet motor. Nature 607, 492–498 (2022). An article that reports a nanomachine based on DNA origami (a structure formed by the assembly and folding of short DNA strands on a scaffold template).

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  3. Schamel, D. et al. Nanopropellers and their actuation in complex viscoelastic media. ACS Nano 8, 8794–8801 (2014). An article that reports a nanoswimmer, a machine that mimics the structure and motion of bacterial flagella.

  4. Lee, J. et al. Non-contact long-range magnetic stimulation of mechanosensitive ion channels in freely moving animals. Nat. Mater. 20, 1029–1036 (2021). An article that reports a magnetic nanomachine for in vivo application.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  ADS  Google Scholar 

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This is a summary of: Lin, M. et al. A magnetically powered nanomachine with a DNA clutch. Nat. Nanotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01599-6 (2024).

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Spinning nanomotor with a DNA clutch. Nat. Nanotechnol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01600-2

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