DNA origami nanosyringe actively transports molecules into synthetic cells

AI Summary

Researchers have developed DNA origami nanosyringes that actively transport molecules into synthetic cells, mimicking biological systems that use mechanical motion to puncture cells and deliver molecular cargo. This advance provides insights for targeted delivery and synthetic biology applications.

Transporting molecules across biological membranes is essential for life. In nature, this can occur through passive transport, known as diffusion. "Biological systems often use mechanical motion to accomplish tasks that cannot be achieved by diffusion alone," says Professor Laura Na Liu, director of the 2nd Physics Institute at the University of Stuttgart. For example, certain bacteria use extracellular contractile injection systems. These molecular nanomachines puncture target cells and deliver molecular cargo.