A DNA-based nanorobotic arm connected to a base plate through a flexible joint can be used to store and release mechanical energy. The joint acts as a torsion spring that is wound up by rotating the arm using external electric fields and is released using a high-frequency electrical pulse.
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References
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This is a summary of: Vogt, M. et al. Storage of mechanical energy in DNA nanorobotics using molecular torsion springs. Nat. Phys. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-023-01938-3 (2023).
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A DNA-based nanorobotic arm driven by a molecular wind-up motor. Nat. Phys. 19, 626–627 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-023-01951-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-023-01951-6