Efficient design of DNA origami modular building blocks for programmable self-limiting assembly of complex nano-architectures

Recent advances in DNA nanotechnology have enabled the design and synthesis of nanoscale building blocks with subnanometer precision, making it possible to construct complex architectures. However, the increasing demand for advanced biomaterials with intricate geometries poses a challenge due to the high cost and labor involved in designing many unique building blocks.

In this work, we introduce a modular DNA origami building block, an equilateral triangle, where the inter-triangle binding angle and interaction specificity can be independently controlled using DNA extruded from the core structure. This approach addresses two key challenges. First, it allows independent control over both the geometric and interaction specificity of the building blocks. Second, it significantly reduces labor and resource costs by using a single universal building block, with 100% of the scaffold design and at least 70% of the staple DNAs conserved.

We show the utility of our method by constructing anisotropic deltahedral shells and a toroidal structure with globally varying curvature, demonstrating a scalable and cost-effective fabrication process for complex nanostructures.