Manufacture DNA boxes that open with DNA

2009/07/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Nanoteknologia
• Farmakologia

At Aarhus University in Denmark DNA nanocajas have been manufactured using a computer model. This model is based on the DNA of a fago and uses 250 oligonucleotides to form a box. With this model one billion DNA boxes are created in 2-3 hours.

DNA is also used for opening the boxes: if a certain gene or sequence is placed on a box edge, the box opens. Thanks to this feature, researchers believe that in the future DNA boxes will serve to transport drugs to specific sites.

Before, however, researchers recognize that they will have to work a lot. Among other things, they should analyze how DNA boxes work and how long they last within the body.