Nano-Sized Box With a Lock and Key

May-06-09 Researchers in Denmark have created a tiny box with a lid that can lock shut and even hinge open with a set of DNA "keys". This new box exists on a non-scale and is the first such box with solid sides and moving parts.

DNA makes an ideal building material for nanostructures becasue It's easy to create in bulk. A virus was used to manufacture copies of the sequence that the team designed. To design the box, the researchers developed computer software to generate a continuous single-stranded DNA sequence that would self-assemble into the desired shape.

To make the lid lockable, two tiny DNA latches were created with with sticky ends. When locked, the latches adhere to the box, holding it shut. When the DNA keys are added, the latches bind to those instead, allowing the lid to swing open.

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[TECHNOLOGYREVIEW.COM]

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