Comparative design parameters of DNA origami nanostructures for drug delivery applications.
| DNA origami geometry | Typical dimensions (nm) | Cargo loading capacity | Structural features | Stimuli responsiveness | Application highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2D tile | 50 × 50 | ~100 small molecules | Flat, single-layer scaffold with addressable surface; easy ligand display | Minimal (limited to edge modifications) | Surface-bound biosensors; aptamer-based cell recognition |
| 3D box (hinged) | 40 × 40 × 40 | Multiple macromolecules (e.g., siRNA, enzymes) | Enclosed cavity with controllable “lid” or lock; aptamer- or enzyme-triggered opening | pH-, enzyme-, and redox-responsive locks | Tumor-targeted drug delivery (e.g., doxorubicin, siRNA) |
| Tetrahedron | 25 × 25 × 25 | Up to 3 proteins or 10–20 small molecules | Symmetric, rigid 3D structure; rapid cell entry; nuclease-resistant | Rapid endosomal escape; pH-sensitive crosslinkers | Gene editing delivery (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9), anti-miRNA therapy |
| Nanorod | 10 × 100 | ~50–100 drug molecules or 1–2 protein complexes | High aspect ratio; easily functionalized ends; strong cell penetration | Thermal unfolding or aptamer-based opening | In vivo tumor penetration and vascular targeting |
| Nanocapsule | 60 × 80 | ~200 drug molecules or multiplexed payloads | Hollow shell-like structure; fully enclosed; programmable gates | Enzyme-sensitive shell degradation | Multi-cargo co-delivery (e.g., drug + adjuvant) for immunotherapy |
| DNA barrel | 50 × 60 | 150–250 small molecules or dual payloads | Tubular, cylindrical architecture; central lumen and lateral pores | Dual-stimulus triggered (e.g., pH and enzyme) | Oral delivery and GI tract stability enhancement |
2D: two-dimensional; 3D: three-dimensional.
DS: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing—original draft, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration. SS: Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation, Writing—review & editing. NT: Validation, Resources, Writing—review & editing. NB: Supervision, Writing—review & editing, Validation. All authors read and approved the submitted version.
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
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