Abstracts

(In the order of jamboree presentation)

Team #1: Nano_JLU (Jilin University)
Title: A Nanoscale “Mousetrap” for Capturing and Detecting miRNA Based on DNA Origami
Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short regulatory RNAs, some of which are closely associated with disease progression and therefore serve as valuable biomarkers for disease diagnosis and monitoring. However, conventional miRNA assays, such as RT-qPCR, often require prolonged testing times. To explore a more programmable and visually intuitive strategy for miRNA sensing, we designed a DNA-origami-based “nano-mousetrap” that converts molecular recognition into controllable structural motion and a fluorescent signal.
Our nanorobot is built from a flexible 14-helix DNA bundle with a single-stranded hinge and is immobilized on a silicon plate through multiple anchoring strands. This surface restriction helps stabilize the initial configuration and reduce false positive fluorescent signals caused by nonspecific interactions. Fluorophores are positioned on the two arms of the structure. Upon recognition of the target miRNA, a toehold-mediated strand displacement (TMSD) reaction releases one arm from the surface. At the same time, a specially designed “clip” strand pulls the two arms together, driving structural closure and generating a distinguishable fluorescent readout.
Furthermore, this platform is not limited to a single miRNA target. By reprogramming the sequences of the functional strands, the same nanorobot architecture can in principle be adapted to recognize a broader range of biomarkers. By translating molecular recognition into nanoscale mechanical motion, and then converting that motion into an optical signal, our design offers a programmable and enzyme-free strategy for future nucleic-acid sensing applications.

Team #2: Team ZZU (Zhengzhou University)
Title: A Biomacromolecule-Assembled Nanodevice with Esterase Activity: Protection by Disrupting the Viral Envelope
Abstract: Viruses pose a major global health burden, while existing antivirals are limited by resistance, toxicity, and the viral envelope barrier, and the viral envelope further impedes treatment via its physical barrier and host-like lipids. Although natural hydrolases can inactivate viruses, they are unstable and difficult to obtain. Nanozymes combine enzyme-like catalysis with high stability and scalability. We therefore designed a biomacromolecule-assembled nanodevice acting as an esterase-like nanozyme to disrupt the viral envelope, offering a promising antiviral strategy.
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognized the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), underscoring their utility as a functional design platform, while covalent organic frameworks (COFs)—with covalent stability, tunable pores, and facile functionalization—are likewise candidate platforms for nanozymes. We therefore used both as the basis for screening.
The catalytic active centers of natural hydrolases are typically composed of specific amino acid residues, among which the imidazole group of histidine and the carboxyl groups of aspartate/glutamate mediate coordination and acid-base catalysis; porphyrin is the core cofactor of biomacromolecules such as heme. Inspired by this, we incorporated biomacromolecule-related organic units into nanodevices: amino acids as MOF ligands and porphyrins as COF building units, whose peripheral groups enable covalent linkage into a stable framework and whose central cavity can chelate metals.
Regarding the metal center, based on the literature, Cu²⁺—offering the best balance between coordination strength and reactivity—was selected as the Lewis acid center. On this basis, we screened similar enzyme-mimetic candidates, including MOFs and COFs, and identified a hydrolase-active material—a MOF. For the ligand, since natural hydrolases rely on amino acid side-chain functional motifs rather than whole amino acids, we extracted this motif and selected ICA—containing both an imidazole ring and a carboxyl group—to mimic the key catalytic groups of histidine and acidic amino acids. ICA and Cu²⁺ co-precipitated and self-assembled into a nanodevice. Enzyme assays revealed good esterase activity, yielding a hydrolase-like nanozyme that effectively disrupts the viral envelope and efficiently inactivates the virus.
In this study, we developed a biomacromolecule-assembled nanozyme that mimics natural esterases. Cu²⁺-ICA coordination creates an efficient catalytic microenvironment that promotes substrate activation and ester bond hydrolysis. The nanozyme therefore exhibits broad esterase-like activity toward various ester substrates. It also combines storage stability with scalable preparation, overcoming the stability and mass-production bottlenecks of natural esterases and supporting the large-scale use. Importantly, it shows potent antiviral activity by disrupting the envelope, significantly reducing viral infectivity.

Team #3: UBC BIOMOD (The University of British Columbia)
Title: A DNA-based detector of relative mRNA abundance
Abstract: Although cancer incidence increases with country income, retrospective studies suggest that lower and middle income countries (LMICs) have significantly higher mortality, with approximately 75% of cancer deaths occurring in LMICs. In high income countries (HICs), tumours and patient body fluids are routinely sent for genomic screening, informing physicians of actionable drug targets and residual disease. However, these innovations are inaccessible to LMICs due to the prohibitive costs of genome sequencing facilities, contributing to increased mortality. Here, we demonstrate a novel, low-cost, DNA oligomer-based cancer subtyping tool in detecting the relative abundance of disparate mRNA transcripts. We used CADnano to design DNA oligomers which use homologous strand displacement to change and adopt specific conformations based on the relative abundance of vimentin (VIM) and cadherin-1 (CDH1) mRNAs. Notably, these conformations can be detected using inexpensive polyacrylamide (PAGE) gels and widely available nucleic acid staining, providing the basis for a low-cost cancer subtyping tool. Our findings demonstrate the potential of DNA nanostructures in the resource-limited diagnostic settings.

Team #4: UCalgary BIOMOD (University of Calgary)
Title: Aptonix: A Modular Electrochemical Dendrimer-Aptamer Based Biosensor for Alzheimer’s Disease
Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia, and early detection of its biomarkers, such as amyloid-beta or tau protein, is a potential key to delaying onset. Our aim was to develop an aptamer-based electrochemical biosensor for detection of amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42), in which an aptamer detects the target through conformational change. We concluded that using a PAMAM dendrimer as a structural backbone would aid in noise reduction in our square wave voltammetry (SWV) signal, consistent with previous work using dendrimers as signal amplifiers. We further implemented toehold-mediated strand displacement (TMSD) to allow for replacement or exchange of the aptamers. Signal transduction relies on a methylene blue redox reporter at the distal end of the aptamer and the binding of the target biomarker, Aβ42, at the receptor site. By demonstrating the use of this reprogrammable biosensor, early detection of Alzheimer’s may be scaled up to population-wide testing and help delay onset by informing risk-targeted interventions for improving brain fitness.

Team #5: Team Sendai (Tohoku University)
Title: Love Molecular Robot
Abstract: “Aptamers” are DNA or RNA molecules that can recognize specific target molecules with high selectivity. They have many possible applications, such as biosensing and medical diagnosis.
However, when we want to create more complex functions using multiple aptamers, we often need to put many aptamers together using technologies such as DNA origami. These methods have some problems. For example, large structures move more slowly in solution. Also, when many proteins bind to the structure, they can get in each other’s way.
Therefore, we are trying to create “Love Molecular Robots.”
Our molecular robot has a heart-shaped DNA structure. The two curved parts of the heart contain aptamer regions that recognize the target molecule. The pointed part of the heart has a site for connecting with another molecular robot. The positions of these parts can be designed to fit the shape of the target.
When the aptamer recognizes and binds to the target, a DNA strand in the aptamer region becomes exposed. This exposed strand can then bind to the connection site of another molecular robot. By repeating this process, many molecular robots can connect with each other and form a large complex with the target molecules.
This has several advantages. First, it makes it easier to detect whether the aptamers have bound to the target. Second, many robots can bind together, which can make the overall binding stronger. In addition, because our molecular robot uses only a few types of DNA strands, it can be smaller and lighter than conventional systems. Also, even when many target molecules form a complex, steric hindrance should be small because the aptamer regions and the connection sites are separated by a certain distance.
Our “Love Molecular Robot” could be a versatile platform for recognizing many different proteins simply by changing the aptamer sequence. It could also be used to recognize multimeric proteins by increasing the number of aptamer regions.
For example, we are considering using neuraminidase, a tetrameric protein found on influenza viruses, as a target. By using our molecular robots to connect influenza viruses together, we may be able to make large virus complexes that can be more easily removed from the body by natural clearance mechanisms. In this way, our molecular robots could lead to a new approach for preventing or treating viral infections.
And if the molecular world were filled with hearts, perhaps our real world would also become a healthier place, filled with more and more people—and filled with love.

Team #6: AxoTech (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey)
Title: NeuroFold-ELA: DNA Origami–Redox-Responsive Nanogel for Neuronal Protection in ALS
Abstract: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of motor neurons and is associated with mutations in genes such as SOD1, TARDBP, FUS, and C9orf72, although most cases are sporadic. Disease progression is driven by multiple pathological mechanisms, including protein misfolding and aggregation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction, while current treatments provide only limited clinical benefit. To address these challenges, we propose NeuroFold, a drug delivery system based on a rectangular DNA origami that transports trehalose, a molecule capable of inducing autophagy, to motor neurons. The system combines a DNA origami nanostructure with an RVG-29 peptide for neuronal targeting and a hyaluronic acid cystamine nanogel designed to respond to intracellular glutathione (GSH). GSH rich conditions are used to represent the reducing intracellular environment found in neuronal cells. The nanogel is synthesized by crosslinking hyaluronic acid with cystamine using EDC/NHS and subsequently purified by dialysis. Trehalose is then loaded into the nanogel, and its properties are characterized before evaluating its release under physiological and GSH rich conditions. The difference in release between these conditions is used to assess the proposed redox responsive mechanism. Future work will focus on experimentally building the DNA origami nanostructure and integrating it with the nanogel to obtain the complete NeuroFold system. Further studies will also be needed to evaluate neuronal uptake and determine whether trehalose delivery can promote protein clearance. In this project, our experiments focus on testing the GSH responsive release of trehalose and establishing whether the nanogel can work as a controlled delivery system.

Team #7: LIIGH-UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)
Title: Melanobot
Abstract: Acral melanoma (ALM) is a rare, non-UV-associated melanoma subtype affecting the palms, soles, and nail beds. It is often detected late and has limited treatment options, while research remains scarce in highly affected populations such as Mexico, where it accounts for up to 44.1% of melanoma cases (Lino-Silva et al., 2016). In some instances, ALM exhibits overexpression of CDK4, a cyclin dependent kinase for cell, causing it to compete against p16 for binding to cyclin-D promoting the RN phosphorylation and cell cycle progression. The proposal is an origami DNA-based nanocarrier for the targeted delivery of a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6 inhibitor) known as Ribociclib (Schuler et al., 2022), using DNA aptamers designed to fold into a 3D shape that matches the antigen of the novel membrane receptor CSPG4, which is expressed in 80% in melanoma cases (Ferrone et al., 2020), and about 53.6% in ALM cases (Nishi et al., 2010). While Ribociclib has been utilized before in previous melanoma case studies with limited cytotoxic effect, the additional modification aims to use a positively-charged lipid based nanoparticle capable of crossing the negatively charged cell membrane to effectively release the drug in the cytoplasm (Zhang, et al., 2025). The system thus seeks to optimize the delivery and improve the performance of Ribociclib in CSPG4 positive tumors. Further studies are being driven using cells obtained through cell derivation from patient derived xenographts (PDX); first, immunocytochemistry (ICC) assays to analyze the presence of ALM specific markers in these cell lines such as SOX10 and HMB45, and next, cytotoxicity assays to confirm the effect of Ribocilib with and without the encapsulation process.

1. Zhang, F., Luo, W., Min, Z., Wu, L., Wang, Z., Wang, Y., Liao, W., Liu, Y., Chen, W., & Wen, L. (2025). Biomimetic cancer cell membrane engineered lipid nanoparticles for enhanced chemotherapy of homologous malignant tumor. BMC cancer, 25(1), 1071. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14433-0

2. Ferrone, S., & Whiteside, T. L. (2020). Targeting CSPG4 for isolation of melanoma cell-derived exosomes from body fluids. CSPG4 im Fokus zur Isolierung von aus Melanomzellen stammenden Exosomen aus Körperflüssigkeiten. HNO, 68(2), 100–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00106-019-00811-1

3. Nishi, H., Inoue, Y., Kageshita, T., Takata, M., & Ihn, H. (2010). The expression of human high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen in acral lentiginous melanoma. Bioscience trends, 4(2), 86–89.

4. Lino-Silva, L. S., Domínguez-Rodríguez, J. A., Aguilar-Romero, J. M., Martínez-Said, H., Salcedo-Hernández, R. A., García-Pérez, L., Herrera-Gómez, Á., & Cuellar-Hubbe, M. (2016). Melanoma in Mexico: Clinicopathologic Features in a Population with Predominance of Acral Lentiginous Subtype. Annals of surgical oncology, 23(13), 4189–4194. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-016-5394-x

5. Schuler, M., Zimmer, L., Kim, K. B., Sosman, J. A., Ascierto, P. A., Postow, M. A., De Vos, F. Y. F. L., van Herpen, C. M. L., Carlino, M. S., Johnson, D. B., Berking, C., Reddy, M. B., Harney, A. S., Berlin, J. D., & Amaria, R. N. (2022). Phase Ib/II Trial of Ribociclib in Combination with Binimetinib in Patients with NRAS-mutant Melanoma. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 28(14), 3002–3010. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-21-3872

Team #8: OhioMOD (The Ohio State University)
Title: Programmable DNA Origami Platform for Triggered Apolipoprotein A-I Delivery
Abstract: Atherosclerosis remains the primary pathological driver of cardiovascular disease, characterized by the accumulation of lipid-laden macrophage foam cells within arterial walls that destabilize plaques toward rupture. While endogenous reverse cholesterol transport via the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) can extract excess intracellular lipids, therapeutic delivery of its key acceptor protein, Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), is hindered by rapid systemic clearance and a lack of targeted, localized release. To overcome these limitations, we developed a targeted nanotherapeutic system using a 3D DNA origami Cell Sensing Platform (CSP) engineered to transport and selectively release human ApoA-I to promote localized cholesterol efflux.
Our system builds upon a rigid 3D CSP scaffold displaying 30 surface-accessible overhangs. To tether cargo, we designed a multifunctional 70-nucleotide single-stranded Bridge Strand containing four discrete domains: an anchor-complementary docking sequence, a flexible tri-thymine (T3) spacer to alleviate steric hindrance against the origami wall, a 41-nucleotide aptamer pocket that selectively coordinates ApoA-I, and an exposed 5-nucleotide toehold. To trigger release, an engineered 46-nucleotide Invader Strand initiates toehold-mediated strand displacement, propagating branch migration through the aptamer domain. Duplex formation mechanically disrupts the aptamer’s tertiary binding pocket, releasing free ApoA-I into the microenvironment to interact with the extracellular domain of cell-surface ABCA1 transporters.
Structural self-assembly of the base CSP has been verified through folding trials with replacement strands, and nanostructure stability has been mapped across magnesium (MgCl₂) and sodium (NaCl) ionic screens. Ongoing work focuses on assembling the platform with designed Bridge and Invader strands to determine the optimal ionic regime that reconciles nanostructure integrity with rapid strand displacement. We are developing an in vitro fluorescence quenching assay to systematically characterize displacement kinetics and release efficiency. This work lays the foundation for future cell-based evaluations of targeted ABCA1 engagement, offering a modular, programmable DNA nanotechnology framework for targeted cardiovascular intervention.

Team #9: Team Science Tokyo (Institute of Science Tokyo)
Title: Open Sesame! Hybridization Chain Reaction-Driven DNA Bundling for Lipid Membrane Disruption
Abstract: Lipid bilayers play an essential role as barriers that separate the interior and exterior of living cells. Because some signaling molecules released from cells are encapsulated within lipid-bilayer structures such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), directly recognizing these molecules from outside the membrane remains a challenge for molecular robots designed to detect and respond to such signals. In this study, we propose a method for physically disrupting lipid membranes by bringing the rigid DNA bundles generated by a DNA amplification reaction close to the membrane surface.
In our approach, a sequence-specific DNA trigger initiates a Hybridization Chain Reaction (HCR). Cholesterol-modified DNA molecules sequentially hybridize during the reaction. While a conventional single-hairpin DNA design produces only a single double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), our double-hairpin DNA design enables each hairpin to become part of a different DNA strand, thereby cross-linking adjacent DNA molecules. As a result, a highly rigid bundled DNA structure composed of six double-stranded DNA molecules is formed. The resulting DNA bundle is anchored to the lipid membrane through hydrophobic interactions mediated by cholesterol. Owing to its high rigidity, the DNA bundle induces membrane deformation, generating mechanical stress in the membrane that is expected to ultimately lead to membrane disruption. The rigidity of the DNA bundle required for membrane disruption is expected to depend on the curvature of the target lipid membrane.
To validate our design, we experimentally examined whether bundled DNA can be assembled as designed and whether it is capable of disrupting lipid membranes.
Potentially, our research may pave the way for molecular signal-responsive systems capable of lipid membrane disruption. By using cell-free cancer-associated miRNAs as sequence-specific triggers, such systems could eventually be extended from lipid vesicles toward larger membrane-bound targets, including living cells.

Team #10: constLACTOr (Hiroshima University)
Title: Rapid Crocodile system
Abstract: In DNA nanotechnology, sequence-specific toehold-mediated strand displacement (TMSD) is widely used as a fundamental mechanism for driving molecular devices and controlling molecular circuits. However, slow diffusion of the invading strand and slow initial binding commonly limit the response speed to an input, constraining processes such as the walking speed of DNA walkers and the solation rate of DNA gels. To address this issue, we propose the Rapid Crocodile System, which combines a proximity effect with photoresponsiveness to enable ultrafast strand displacement. The system consists of a substrate duplex whose toehold is protected by a photocleavable spacer, an invading single strand, and a single-stranded hinge that connects the two. The invading strand is prebound to the hinge so that the duplex and invading strand are held in close proximity. UV irradiation then exposes the toehold, causing the reaction to proceed rapidly, like the closing jaws of an open crocodile. We expect this system to enable high-speed molecular robots with unprecedented responsiveness while preserving the orthogonality of input signals. In the presentation, we quantitatively evaluate the reaction kinetics and the validity of the design using simulation tools such as NUPACK and Multistrand.

Team #11: BIOMOD TUAT (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology)
Title: SEAS² — Self-oscillating Engineered DNA hydrogel with Autonomous Swelling and Shrinking
Abstract: In molecular robotics, the development of actuators that can be controlled by molecular computers is an important enabling technology [1]. Concurrently, soft robotics has explored biomimetic motion using hydrogels as soft materials [2]. Several studies have demonstrated Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) gels capable of autonomous periodic swelling and shrinking [3,4]. However, their reliance on specific chemical reactions limits their programmability and extensibility. In this project, we aim to overcome this limitation by driving a hydrogel using a logic circuit based on the PEN DNA toolbox, thereby constructing an actuator with both programmability and autonomy. We named this system SEAS²( Self-oscillating Engineered DNA hydrogel with Autonomous Swelling and Shrinking). The PEN DNA toolbox generates a dissipative structure through its reaction network, enabling sustained oscillations without sequential external stimulation [5]. As an initial implementation toward future scalability and reproducibility, we adopted a continuous gel-fabrication method using a microfluidic channel. Within the channel, polyacrylamide gels crosslinked with acryl-modified DNA were fabricated, and periodic signals generated by the oscillatory PEN circuit were introduced as inputs to induce autonomous swelling and shrinking. The autonomous gel oscillation established by this approach could enable future self-propelled actuators based on periodic motion. It could also provide a foundation for scalable production of devices capable of dynamically changing their shape according to their function. This work provides a basis for developing and manufacturing autonomous molecular robots with greater programmability, flexibility, and a broader range of accessible behaviors.

[1] S. Murata, et al., “Molecular Robots with Sensors and Intelligence,” Accounts of Chemical Research, vol. 47, no. 8, pp. 2488–2495, 2014. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1021/ar400318d.

[2] Li, Shengnan, Jingren Ma, Jingquan Han, and Jun Fu. “Biomimetic Self‐Sensing Hydrogel Soft Robotics: Precise Structures for Integrated Actuation and Sensing.” Advanced Functional Materials 36, no. 39 (2026): e74884.

[3] S. Maeda, Y. Hara, T. Sakai, R. Yoshida, and S. Hashimoto, “Self-Walking Gel,” Adv. Mater., vol. 19, no. 21, pp. 3480-3484, 2007, doi: 10.1002/adma.200700625.

[4] Y. Yamada, Y. Otsuka, Z. Mao, and S. Maeda, “Periodical propagation of torsion in polymer gels,” Sci. Rep., vol. 12, p. 16679, 2022, doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-21198-0.

[5] K. Montagne, R. Plasson, Y. Sakai, T. Fujii, and Y. Rondelez, “Programming an in vitro DNA oscillator using a molecular network,” Mol. Syst. Biol., vol. 7, no. 1, p. 466, 2011, doi: 10.1038/msb.2011.12.

[6] Y. Sato, et al., “Morphological Manipulation of DNA Gel Microbeads with Biomolecular Stimuli,” Nanomaterials, vol. 11, no. 2, Art. no. 293, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11020293.

[7] J. Hu, et al., “Photolithographic shape control of DNA hydrogels by photo-activated self-assembly of DNA nanostructures,” APL Bioengineering, vol. 4, no. 1, Art. no. 016109, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32206743/.

Team #12: BIOMOD Qdai (Kyushu University)
Title: Self-Propelled Amoeba-Type Molecular Robot Driven by Actin Polymerization in Response to Mechanosensing
Abstract: In recent years, research on amoeba-type molecular robots that autonomously deform and move has advanced, and artificial cell systems that drive membrane deformation through DNA crosslinking have been reported. However, most of these require adding DNA strands from the outside for each actuation, or artificially controlling the timing of the reaction by light irradiation, and therefore cannot be considered truly autonomous. Focusing on this dependence on external control, the present study aims to build an amoeba-type molecular robot that responds autonomously to physical stimuli from its environment, based on a protein-based molecular design.
Specifically, inspired by leukocyte extravasation—in which a white blood cell squeezes through narrow gaps in the vessel wall to migrate—we reproduce its core function, passage through a narrow gap, using a giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV). We construct a synthetic GUV in which the membrane-tension-gated channel MscL is placed on the membrane as a mechanosensor, and the calcium/calmodulin-dependent actin-polymerizing protein INF2 is encapsulated inside together with actin. When the GUV is pushed into a narrow gap, the membrane tension rises at the leading edge and MscL opens. The calcium ions that flow in then activate INF2, promoting local actin polymerization at that site.
The originality of this design lies in feeding the mechanical sensing of a narrow gap directly back into actin polymerization, without requiring any externally imposed timing control. Moreover, no previous study has demonstrated narrow-gap passage as a module for artificial cell migration; if realized, it is expected to enable a wide range of applications, such as drug delivery systems that slip through intercellular gaps.

Team #13: YOKABIO (Kyushu Institute of Technology)
Title: Accurately Linkable GUV Network
Abstract: In living organisms, the exchange of information and substances between cells supports a wide range of biological processes. To reproduce such intercellular communication artificially, researchers have investigated DNA-mediated connections between giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). However, previous approaches have faced challenges in controlling connection partners and the number of connections, as connecting multiple GUVs can lead to unintended connections and excessive aggregation. In this study, we propose ALIGN (Accurately Linkable GUV Network), which combines DNA-mediated connections between GUVs with DNA strand displacement reactions to control both connection partners and the number of connections.
Distinct DNA sequences are displayed on GUV surfaces, enabling selective connections between specific GUVs through complementary DNA hybridization. Furthermore, strand displacement reactions are used to inhibit binding to other DNA strands, preventing an individual GUV from connecting to an excessive number of other GUVs. Through this approach, we aim to construct GUV networks with defined architectures.
To evaluate the effectiveness of this design, we modeled DNA association and dissociation processes, together with strand displacement reactions, and simulated the connection behavior of GUVs. We are also varying parameters, such as DNA length and the degree of dissociation, to identify conditions that enable the intended connections while suppressing excessive connectivity.
To enable the exchange of substances between connected GUVs, we combine pores formed in GUV membranes by α-hemolysin with a TRIMEB-based release mechanism. TRIMEB can be physically displaced when α-hemolysin molecules come into close proximity. We use this property to establish a mechanism in which GUV connection triggers the exchange of substances.
We are currently developing and validating a model that combines DNA-mediated connections between GUVs with strand displacement reactions, while also preparing GUVs and experimentally validating an α-hemolysin-mediated transport mechanism. Through this study, we aim to construct artificial cell networks with controlled connection partners and numbers of connections, and to establish a technological foundation for the stepwise transfer of substances among multiple GUVs. In the future, this approach could contribute to the realization of networks in which multiple artificial cells work cooperatively and to the development of artificial cell systems with complex functions.

Team #14: Team Kansai (Kansai University)
Title: DNA origami revolving door
Abstract: A drug delivery system (DDS) is a technology that controls pharmacokinetics temporally,spatially, and quantitatively. By delivering only the required amount of a drug to the required location at the required time, a DDS aims to reduce side effects and improve therapeutic efficacy. Liposomes, which are a type of DDS, have limitations in controlling the timing of drug release. Therefore, we focused on DNA origami, whose shape and movement can be designed at the molecular level, as a mechanism for switching drug release using external stimuli. By combining DNA origami with liposomes and using it as an opening and closing mechanism, we aim to control drug release and interactions through cholesterol modification.
In this study, we design and fabricate DNA origami equipped with light-switchable rotating doors. The designed DNA origami has a 28-helix rectangular shape, as its overall structure, with 6 domains of 6-helix portion serving as the rotating components. Photo-responsive residues incorporated into the locking DNA act as the trigger for rotating the doors. In the experiments, we will evaluate the formation of the DNA origami structure and its rotational behavior upon UV irradiation.

Team #15: NTU_Taiwan (National Taiwan University)
Title: Nucleotide Overhang Mediated Self-Repair of DNA Origami Nanostructure
Abstract: DNA origami has been used substantially over the past years due to high efficiency for synthesis and their ability to be programmed with ease. There has been numerous research focusing on the application of these nanostructures for drug delivery, gene targeting, and even tissue engineering. However, in vivo experiments or scalable commercial applications have been hard to accomplish due to rapid degradation caused by DNase. Past methods for increasing the durability of the structures include direct adjustments towards the structures, by controlling base pair lengths and crossover points; or through chemical modifications that results in more stability and slower degradation rate.
Herein, we propose the use of overhang staple strands, which are composed of nucleotide sequences that match the scaffold entirely, in order to achieve a self-repair mechanism of DNA nanostructures. By comparing the use of different staple strands attached onto our scaffold, we are able to deduce the best method for DNA origami repair, based on the use of physical modification.