Breaking Barriers in Synthetic Biology: DNA Nanobots Reshape Artificial Cells

 "Form follows function"—a principle well-known in design and architecture—also governs biology. A cell’s shape isn’t random; it’s critical to its function. Now, scientists are applying this concept to synthetic cells, using DNA nanotechnology to engineer customizable membranes that could revolutionize medicine.

Leading this frontier is Prof. Laura Na Liu (University of Stuttgart / Max Planck Institute), whose team has developed DNA nanorobots to control the shape and permeability of artificial cell membranes. Their breakthrough, published in Nature Materials, could pave the way for smarter drug delivery and synthetic biology applications.

How It Works: DNA Origami Meets Artificial Cells

The researchers used giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs)—simplified synthetic cells—as a testbed. By deploying reconfigurable DNA nanobots, they manipulated these membranes to form on-demand transport channels, allowing large molecules (like therapeutic proteins) to pass through.

Even more impressive? These channels can open and close on command, offering precise control over molecular traffic—a feature with huge potential for targeted drug delivery.

Why This Matters

Unlike natural biological systems, these DNA nanobots are fully artificial, yet they function seamlessly in a biological environment. As co-author Prof. Stephan Nussberger explains:

"Our nanobots have no direct biological counterpart—they’re a synthetic solution to a biological challenge."

This innovation opens doors to:
🔬 Better drug delivery – Enabling large therapeutic proteins to enter cells efficiently.
🧪 Disease research – Mimicking cell behaviors to study disorders.
🔄 Programmable synthetic biology – Customizing artificial cells for medical and industrial uses.

What’s Next?

The team’s next goal is refining these nanobots for real-world applications, such as delivering gene therapies or engineered enzymes into living cells. As co-author Prof. Hao Yan puts it:

"This isn’t just lab work—it’s a leap toward future therapies."

Reference:

Sisi Fan et al, Morphological transformation and formation of membrane channels in synthetic cells through reconfigurable DNA nanotubes, Nature Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-02075-9 www.nature.com/articles/s41563-024-02075-9