Programmable DNA-based Meta-materials

Biological materials with unusual properties such as solar energy harvesting and carbon sequestration typically consist of nanometer-scale, structured proteinassemblies. Because these assemblies evolved over millions to billions of years, they can be challenging to re-purpose. As an alternative, we are exploring synthetic nucleic acids as programmable nanoscale materials. DNA can be programmed to self-assemble via Watson-Crick base pairing into complex, hierarchical nanoscale materials of nearly arbitrary 2D and 3D geometry that host a variety of secondary molecules with enzymatic, light-harvesting, and other functions with transformative potential for quantum computing, solar energy harvesting, carbon sequestration, and vaccination, amongst other uses.