Technical marvel: DNA nanoturbine, promises to redefine the limits of molecular engineering, opening doors to revolutionary applications in nanomotors and nanomachines.

At the heart of technological evolution, Nanotechnology takes a bold step with the creation of a nanoturbine revolutionary, built from the very DNA. This advance, led by Xin Shi and his team at Delft University of Technology, in the Netherlands, promises to redesign the landscape of nanomachines e nanomotors.

The uniqueness of the nanoturbine lies in its meticulously crafted design. With a rotor measuring just 25 nanometers in diameter, it draws inspiration from synthase FoF1-ATP, a biological structure vital to fundamental cellular processes. With strategically configured blades, the direction of rotation is controlled by electrical fields or differences in salt concentration, making it a unique piece of engineering.

The allure of the nanoturbine: DNA beyond genetics

Built using the technique of DNA origami, nanoturbine not only exemplifies the convergence between biology and nanotechnology, but also presents a notable uniqueness in its spin. Its behavior, influenced by ion concentration, allows for unique flexibility, rotating clockwise or counterclockwise based on ion concentration Na + in the solution. This characteristic, exclusive to the nanoscale, reinforces the intricate interaction between ions, water and DNA.

The potential impacts of this nanoturbine transcend the microscopic scale. While its biomedical application promises to revolutionize drug delivery through nanomachines, the direct integration of the turbine with other nanostructures paves the way for biomimetic transmembrane machines. The ability to harness energy from salt gradients, a vital source for biological engines, signals promising advances in several areas.

A new era in nanotechnology

A DNA nanoturbine it's not just a technological progress; it is a testament to the transformative power of collaboration across scientific disciplines. As we explore the horizons of nanotechnology, we envision a future where nanomotors and nanomachines will shape not only science, but also industries, medicine and everyday life.

This is an invitation to explore the microscopic, where DNA becomes the engine of an unimaginable revolution. Get ready to witness the revolution driven by a small but mighty nanoturbine de DNA.

Bibliography:

Article: A DNA turbine powered by a transmembrane potential across a nanopore
Authors: Xin Shi, Anna-Katharina Pumm, Christopher Maffeo, Fabian Kohler, Elija Feigl, Wenxuan Zhao, Daniel Verschueren, Ramin Golestanian, Aleksei Aksimentiev, Hendrik Dietz, Cees Dekker
Magazine: Nature Nanotechnology
DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01527-8