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The harmony of form and function in DNA nanotechnology

Nature Nanotechnology (2023)Cite this article

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Recent advancements in DNA nanotechnology are enabling the construction of both aesthetically pleasing and functional structures using synthetic DNA strands, paving the way for practical applications in various fields.

At the beginning of the 20th century, architects and industrial designers faced a dilemma involving the relationship between form (that is, aesthetics) and function (that is, practical use). Many believed that form without function is art rather than design. Therefore, when designing an object, the function or purpose should be the primary consideration, and the form should follow.

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Fig. 1: Unleashing the creative potential of DNA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biosensors and Nanomachines, Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Francesco Ricci

  2. Department of Biosciences and Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Hendrik Dietz

Authors
  1. Francesco Ricci
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  2. Hendrik Dietz
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Correspondence to Francesco Ricci or Hendrik Dietz.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Ricci, F., Dietz, H. The harmony of form and function in DNA nanotechnology. Nat. Nanotechnol. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01362-x

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