Operation of a DNA Robot Arm Inserted into a 2D DNA Crystalline Substrate

Baoquan Ding and Nadrian C. Seeman*
The success of nanorobotics requires the precise placement and subsequent operation of specific nanomechanical devices at particular locations. The structural programmability of DNA makes it a particularly attractive system for nanorobotics. We have developed a cassette that enables the placement of a robust, sequence-dependent DNA robot arm within a two-dimensional (2D) crystalline DNA array. The cassette contains the device, an attachment site, and a reporter of state. We used atomic force microscopy to demonstrate that the rotary device is fully functional after insertion. Thus, a nanomechanical device can operate within a fixed frame of reference.

Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ned.seeman@nyu.edu