Engineering and direct imaging of nanocube self-assembly pathways
December 17, 2024
Tuesday Publication Post! In this newest publication in #NatureNanotechnology the authors are looking at magnetically powered nanomachines with a DNA clutch using the #PoseidonAX in situ liquid phase system! These systems exhibit intricate mechanisms, including a clutch system that allows temporary disengagement of moving parts from the engine—a feat that remains challenging to replicate in artificial nanomachines.
Using the power of liquid phase in situ electron microscopy, the authors were able to visualize the movements in a spherical rotary nanomotor equipped with a reversible clutch system, driven by precise molecular recognition of built-in DNA strands.
The nanomotor in this paper are designed to confine a magnetic engine particle within a minuscule nanospace. By eliminating the entropically driven irreversible disintegration during the disengagement process, this motor enables seamless exchange of microenvironmental inputs through nanopores.
What’s truly remarkable is the size and force capability of this nanomotor. At 200 nm in size, with a clutch-mediated force transmission powered by an embedded ferromagnetic nanocrystal, it delivers an impressive force of approximately 15.5 pN at 50 mT. This potency opens doors to exciting possibilities, including in vitro mechanical activation of vital receptors like Notch and integrin, showcasing its potential as nano-bio machinery.
Want to read the entire paper?
https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01599-6
#Protochips #Findyourbreakthrough #insitumicroscopy #nanomotors
What can we see in the video? This is the observation of the nanomotor structures at high magnification showing the nanospace core particle dynamics:
