화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.140, No.22, 6912-6920, 2018
Constructing Smart Protocells with Built-In DNA Computational Core to Eliminate Exogenous Challenge
A DNA reaction network is like a biological algorithm that can respond to "molecular input signals", such as biological molecules, while the artificial cell is like a microrobot whose function is powered by the encapsulated DNA reaction network. In this work, we describe the feasibility of using a DNA reaction network as the computational core of a protocell, which will perform an artificial immune response in a concise way to eliminate a mimicked pathogenic challenge. Such a DNA reaction network (RN)-powered protocell can realize the connection of logical computation and biological recognition due to the natural programmability and biological properties of DNA. Thus, the biological input molecules can be easily involved in the molecular computation and the computation process can be spatially isolated and protected by artificial bilayer membrane. We believe the strategy proposed in the current paper, i.e., using DNA RN to power artificial cells, will lay the groundwork for understanding the basic design principles of DNA algorithm-based nano devices which will, in turn, inspire the construction of artificial cells, or protocells, that will find a place in future biomedical research.