Researchers from Tohoku University and Kyoto University have developed a DNA-based molecular controller that can autonomously direct the assembly and disassembly of molecular robots. This breakthrough technology is a significant step towards creating advanced autonomous molecular systems with potential applications in medicine and nanotechnology. The molecular controller, composed of artificially designed DNA molecules and enzymes, coexists with molecular robots and controls them by outputting specific DNA molecules. This allows the robots to self-assemble and disassemble automatically without the need for external manipulation, enabling them to perform tasks in environments where external signals cannot reach.
The research team, which included scientists from Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Engineering and Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Science, has made progress in the development of molecular robots designed to aid in disease treatment and diagnosis by functioning both inside and outside the body. Previous research by the team had focused on swarm-type molecular robots that move individually and could be assembled and disassembled as a group through external manipulation. With the newly constructed molecular controller, the robots can now self-assemble and disassemble according to a programmed sequence, thanks to the specific DNA signals generated by the controller.
The molecular controller initiates the assembly process by outputting a specific DNA signal equivalent to the “assemble” command, which is received by microtubules in the solution that are modified with DNA and propelled by kinesin molecular motors. The microtubules align their movement direction and automatically assemble into a bundled structure in response to the DNA signal. Subsequently, the controller outputs a “disassemble” signal, causing the microtubule bundles to automatically disassemble. This dynamic change is achieved through precise control by the molecular circuit, functioning like a sophisticated signal processor and eliminating the need for external manipulation of the molecular robots.
This advancement in molecular technology is expected to contribute to the development of more complex and advanced autonomous molecular systems. Molecular robots may be able to perform tasks that cannot be accomplished alone by assembling according to commands and then dispersing to explore targets. Additionally, the integration of different molecular groups, such as the DNA circuit system and the motor protein operating system, expands the activity conditions of molecular robots. By combining the molecular controller with increasingly sophisticated DNA circuits and biomolecular design technologies, swarm molecular robots may be able to process a more diverse range of biomolecular information automatically, leading to innovative technologies in nanotechnology and the medical field, such as nanomachines for in-situ molecular recognition and diagnosis, or smart drug delivery systems.
Overall, the development of a DNA-based molecular controller that can autonomously direct the assembly and disassembly of molecular robots represents a major advancement in the field of molecular technology. This technology has the potential to revolutionize medicine and nanotechnology by enabling the creation of more complex and advanced autonomous molecular systems that can perform tasks in environments where external signals cannot reach. By combining the molecular controller with sophisticated DNA circuits and biomolecular design technologies, researchers hope to further expand the capabilities of swarm molecular robots and develop innovative technologies for use in various applications, such as in-situ molecular recognition and diagnosis and smart drug delivery systems.
