Nanoscale Manufacturing Using Structural DNA Nanotechnology

Catalog description

This project course introduces modern nanoscale manufacturing using structural nucleic acid nanotechnology with a focus on DNA-based methods. This approach to manufacturing has much in common with other fabrication methods in micro- and nano-engineering: computer aided design tools are necessary for device design, and resulting structures can only be seen using advanced microscopy. However, instead of machining larger materials down to micro- and nanostructures, DNA nanotechnology including DNA origami is fabricated using a "bottom up" approach for self-assembling individual oligonucleotides into 2D and 3D nanostructures. Resulting structures can be engineered to have novel mechanical, biochemical and electrical properties with broad-ranging applications in medicine, biological computing, and nanoelectronics. The course will include lectures, hands-on physical modeling, homework problems, 3D modeling, coarse-grained simulation, and student team projects and presentations.