A new generation of researchers are manipulating DNA to create intricate 3D structures much like origami artists create fascinating shapes out of paper. Scientists like Paul Rothemund of Caltech and Daniel Anderson of UC Davis are spearheading research in this nascent field, appropriately dubbed “DNA origami.”
Researchers in this new area share interests in computer programming and mathematics, and view DNA not as a biological entity woven into the fabric of life, but as tool for engineering complex nanostructures.
The applications of this fascinating new field could include cancer therapeutics. A recent report in Nature Nanotechnology described a novel cancer treatment method based on DNA origami; The researchers behind the study were able to construct a nanostructure from six short pieces of DNA that could shuttle cancer drugs into the center of a tumor without harming healthy cells. The technology could revolutionize the way patients undergo cancer treatment.
Source: Technology Review
