Design of metal-stabilized DNA and RNA nanoconstructs potentially applicable in medicine

DNA nanotechnology can provide breakthroughs in various fields such as catalysis, nanofabrication, computation, bioimaging, drug delivery or cancer treatment.

This approach is based on the idea that if single-stranded DNA sequences are not perfectly complementary, branched-stranded DNAs can be formed, from which complex 2D or 3D structures can be constructed with near-atomic precision by proper sequence design.

Although DNA nanomaterials seem to be promising, the biomedical application is significantly challenged by the fact that current DNA - and especially RNA - nanostructures are unstable under physiological conditions, sensitive towards nucleases and oxidative damage as well.

Therefore my main goal is to develop more stable DNA nanostructures that can later be used to stabilize vaccines or drug carriers.

For this purpose I will use metal-mediated base pairing in addition to the classical Watson-Crick hydrogen base pairing.

During the project I will design, purify and analyse oligonucleotides that stabilize silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) in the small size regime with mixed Ag0/AgI composition in order to achieve AgNC-oligonucleotide systems (nanoconstructs), that can remain stable even in the conditions of the human plasma, thus can be used later as vaccines or drug carriers.

This approach is beyond state of the art since it was not even mentioned as a possible application of metal-incorporated DNA nanoconstructs in the most recent reviews of the field, although already existing data combined suggests, it could eliminate many of the issues of previous concepts.

I will use modern separation, spectroscopy and structure quantification methods, as well as cellular studies, to design and characterise the system that best meets the criteria.