Programming ultrasensitive threshold response through chemomechanical instability
- Journal: nature communications
- Published Year: 2021
- Authors: Young-Joo Kim, Junho Park, Jae Young Lee & Do-Nyun Kim
- Application: nanotechnology, synthetic biology, biosensing, drug delivery
Summary
This study demonstrates programmable ultrasensitive threshold responses in DNA origami rings via chemomechanical instability. DNA origami rings were exposed to DNA intercalators (EtBr, DOX, YOYO-1), inducing torsional stress that triggers Michell’s instability. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) visualized ring conformations at varying intercalator concentrations, confirming sharp structural transitions at critical thresholds. This AFM-derived structural data was essential to correlate molecular-level reconfiguration with predicted mechanical models, validating programmable responsiveness in synthetic biomolecular systems.
