The major objective of domains like Biotechnology and Biological Engineering is to screen and explore the nature of biomolecules and try to adapt and repurpose some of their purposes in the quest of a new function not yet found in nature.
The most critical components from which life is made are biological macromolecules, such as the DNA, RNA, proteins, sugars, and lipids, to name a few. However, it is much easier to predict and play with DNA as compared to proteins. DNA has three properties – structural simplicity, robustness and designability. From its basic form, it can assemble into beautiful 1-D nanowires/tubes, 2-D sheets/arrays and 3-D nanocages/polyhedral. The field which utilizes DNA as a building block is known as structural DNA nanotechnology. As strands of wool can be knitted into patterned sweaters, caps, mufflers, etc., something similar can be done with DNA too! This technique is called DNA origami and it was developed in 2005.
These fancy structures have many uses, which can be broadly classified into three categories – biosensors, bioimagers, and therapeutic agents. Their latest application is against COVID-19. Globally, scientists are trying to block and degrade SARS-COV-2 using a DNA cage with enzymes inside it. The cage can engulf the virus and the enzymes can destroy it. If used efficiently, this strategy can remove a considerable number of virus particles floating in the bloodstream and lungs, and thereby provide some therapeutic relief to the patients. Isn’t all this pretty useful as well as fun?
A detailed and interesting story on some applications of this molecule of life was published on Medium which can be found here. It is based on one of the sessions (delivered by Dhiraj Bhatia, faculty in the Biological Engineering discipline) of the Virtual Seminar Series by IIT Gandhinagar.