Biomimetic DNA Nanotubes: Nanoscale Channel Design and Applications

Biomacromolecular nanotubes play important physiological roles in transmembrane ion/molecule channeling, intracellular transport, and inter-cellular communications. While genetically encoded protein nanotubes are prevalent in vivo, the in vitro construction of biomimetic DNA nanotubes has attracted intense interest with the rise of structural DNA nanotechnology. The abiotic use of DNA assembly provides a powerful bottom-up approach for the rational construction of complex materials with arbitrary size and shape at the nanoscale. More specifically, a typical DNA nanotube can be assembled either with parallel-aligned DNA duplexes or by closing DNA tile lattices. These artificial DNA nanotubes can be tailored and site-specifically modified to realize biomimetic functions including ionic or molecular channeling, bioreactors, drug delivery, and biomolecular sensing. In this Minireview, we aim to summarize recent advances in design strategies, including the characterization and applications of biomimetic DNA nanotubes.