DNA Origami Supports Applications In and Beyond Life Sciences

A European research team developed a dye- and DNA programming-based approach for counting molecules present within individual complexes. The approach supports biomedical and life sciences applications, as well as those involving OLEDs, solar cells, and soft matter — such as photovoltaics and liquid crystals. The research team used a method called “DNA origami” to place individual dye molecules at well-defined distances from one another. The researchers arranged the molecules by manipulating and folding the DNA into desired shapes and sizes of a few nanometers. The fluorescence of the individual “origami” molecules is not immediately distinguishable under a light microscope. To overcome this, team...