High-endurance mechanical switching in a DNA origami snap-through mechanism

TL;DR

This paper introduces a DNA origami-based mechanically bistable switch that can be electrically controlled, demonstrating high stability, rapid switching, and durability, with potential applications in nanodevices and molecular computing.

Contribution

It presents a novel electrically controllable DNA origami snap-through mechanism with high endurance and optical modulation capabilities, advancing biomolecular nanoswitch technology.

Findings

Long-term stability in both states without external stimuli

Millisecond-scale switching times with electric field

Hundreds of thousands of switching cycles over hours

Abstract

Switchable elements are key components of dynamic technological and biological systems, enabling reversible transitions between well-defined states. Here, we present a DNA origami-based, mechanically bistable snap-through mechanism that can be electrically controlled. This nanoscale switch exhibits long-term stability in both states in the absence of external stimuli, while achieving millisecond-scale switching times upon application of an electric field. Individual devices sustain hundreds of thousands of switching cycles over several hours, offering a powerful platform for systematically studying the endurance and failure mechanisms of biomolecular nanoswitches. Functionalization with a gold nanorod further allows polarization-dependent optical modulation, opening avenues for applications in plasmonics. This versatile electromechanical interface has potential uses in molecular information processing, optical nanodevices, and the dynamic control of chemical reactions.