This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue Nucleic Acid Architectures for Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Devices and Materials that was published in Nanomaterials

Nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) and their chemical analogs have been utilized as building materials due to their biocompatibility and programmability. RNA, which naturally possesses a wide range of different functions, is now being widely investigated for its role as a responsive biomaterial which dynamically reacts to changes in the surrounding environment. It is now evident that artificially designed self-assembling RNAs, that can form programmable nanoparticles and supra-assemblies, will play an increasingly important part in a diverse range of applications, such as macromolecular therapies, drug delivery systems, biosensing, tissue engineering, programmable scaffolds for material organization, logic gates, and soft actuators, to name but a few. The current exciting Special Issue comprises research highlights, short communications, research articles, and reviews that all bring together the leading scientists who are exploring a wide range of the fundamental properties of RNA and DNA nanoassemblies suitable for biomedical applications.

Nucleic acids have structurally evolved over billions of years to effectively store and transfer genetic information. In the 1980s, Nadrian Seeman’s idea of constructing a 3D lattice from DNA led to utilizing DNA as nanomolecular building blocks to create emergent molecular systems and nanomaterial objects. This bottom-up approach to construct nanoscale architectures with DNA marked the beginning of a new field, DNA nanotechnology, contributing significantly to the broad area of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The molecular architectonics of small "designer" molecules and short DNA sequences through complementary binding interaction engenders well-defined functional nanoarchitectures with realistic applications in areas ranging from biology to materials science and is termed "DNA nanoarchitectonics." This book discusses novel approaches adapted by leading researchers from all over the world to create functional nucleic acid molecular systems and nanoarchitectures. Individual chapters contributed by active practitioners provide fundamental and advanced knowledge emanated from their own and others’ work. Each chapter includes numerous illustrations, historical perspectives, case studies and practical examples, critical discussions, and future prospects. This book can serve as a practical handbook or as a textbook for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level students of nanotechnology and DNA nanotechnology, supramolecular chemistry, and nanoarchitectonics and researchers working on macromolecular science, nanotechnology, chemistry, biology, and medicine, especially those with an interest in sensors, biosensors, nanoswitches and nanodevices, diagnostics, drug delivery, and therapeutics.

Written by the founder of the field, this is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to structural DNA nanotechnology.

Nucleic Acid Nanotheranostics: Biomedical Applications offers a comprehensive overview of improvements and new trends in fabrication of nanostructures as theranostic multifunctional carriers in gene therapy. With a strong focus on medical applications (comprising diagnosis, therapy and imaging), the book also examines gene therapy in an individual patient's cells or tissues to treat genetic diseases. Sections cover Biomedical and Diagnostic applications of Nucleic Acids, Biologic and Synthetic Advanced Nanostructures for nucleic acid delivery, and important considerations of nanomedicine. This book is a valuable guide for materials scientists, physicians, chemists and engineers, but is also ideal for clinicians wishing to expand their knowledge. - Provides a unique source of knowledge (theoretical as well as practical) on nanotheranostic materials for gene therapy at all levels and related scientific areas - Covers the pros and cons related to viral and nanomaterial-based delivery of nucleic acids in terms of biosafety, carrier selection, synthesis and bioimaging - Presents the only book to include an analysis of nanoformulations approved for clinical use

DNA ORIGAMI Discover the impact and multidisciplinary applications of this subfield of DNA nanotechnology DNA origami refers to the technique of assembling single-stranded DNA template molecules into target two- and three-dimensional shapes at the nanoscale. This is accomplished by annealing templates with hundreds of DNA strands and then binding them through the specific base-pairing of complementary bases. The inherent properties of these DNA molecules—molecular recognition, self-assembly, programmability, and structural predictability—has given rise to intriguing applications from drug delivery systems to uses in circuitry in plasmonic devices. The first book to examine this important subfield, DNA Origami brings together leading experts from all fields to explain the current state and future directions of this cutting-edge avenue of study. The book begins by providing a detailed examination of structural design and assembly systems and their applications. As DNA origami technology is growing in popularity in the disciplines of chemistry, materials science, physics, biophysics, biology, and medicine, interdisciplinary studies are classified and discussed in detail. In particular, the book focuses on DNA origami used for creating new functional materials (combining chemistry and materials science; DNA origami for single-molecule analysis and measurements (as applied in physics and biophysics); and DNA origami for biological detection, diagnosis and therapeutics (medical and biological applications). DNA Origami readers will also find: A complete guide for newcomers that brings together fundamental and developmental aspects of DNA origami technology Contributions by a leading team of experts that bring expert views from different angles of the structural developments and applications of DNA origami An emerging and impactful research topic that will be of interest in numerous multidisciplinary areas A helpful list of references provided at the end of each chapter to give avenues for further study Given the wide scope found in this groundbreaking work, DNA Origami is a perfect resource for nanotechnologists, biologists, biophysicists, chemists, materials scientists, medical scientists, and pharmaceutical researchers.

This book covers the emerging topic of DNA nanotechnology and DNA supramolecular chemistry in its broader sense. By taking DNA out of its biological role, this biomolecule has become a very versatile building block in materials chemistry, supramolecular chemistry and bio-nanotechnology. Many novel structures have been realized in the past decade, which are now being used to create molecular machines, drug delivery systems, diagnosis platforms or potential electronic devices. The book combines many aspects of DNA nanotechnology, including formation of functional structures based on covalent and non-covalent systems, DNA origami, DNA based switches, DNA machines, and alternative structures and templates. This broad coverage is very appealing since it combines both the synthesis of modified DNA as well as designer concepts to successfully plan and make DNA nanostructures. Contributing authors have provided first a general introduction for the non-specialist reader, followed by a more in-depth analysis and presentation of their topic. In this way the book is attractive and useful for both the non-specialist who would like to have an overview of the topic, as well as the specialist reader who requires more information and inspiration to foster their own research.