The use of synthetic DNA to design and build molecular machines and well-defined structures at the nanoscale has greatly impacted the field of nanotechnology. Here we expand the current toolkit in this field by demonstrating an efficient, quantitative, and versatile approach that allows us to remotely control DNA-based reactions and DNA nanostructure self-assembly using electronic inputs. To do so we have deposited onto the surface of disposable chips different DNA input strands that upon the application of a cathodic potential can be desorbed in a remote and controlled way and trigger DNA-based reactions and DNA nanostructure self-assembly. We demonstrate that this effect is specific and versatile and allows the orthogonal control of multiple reactions and multiple structures in the same solution. Moreover, the strategy is highly tunable and can be finely modulated by varying the cathodic potential, the period of applied potential, and the density of the DNA strand on the chip surface. Our approach thus represents a versatile way to remotely control DNA-based circuits and nanostructure assembly and can allow new possible applications of DNA-based nanotools.

中文翻译：

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基于DNA的反应和纳米结构组装的远程电子控制

合成DNA在纳米尺度上设计和构建分子机器和轮廓分明的结构的使用极大地影响了纳米技术领域。在这里，我们通过演示一种有效，定量和通用的方法来扩展该领域的当前工具包，该方法使我们能够使用电子输入来远程控制基于DNA的反应和DNA纳米结构的自组装。为此，我们将不同的DNA输入链沉积到了一次性芯片的表面，这些DNA输入链在施加阴极电势后可以以远程和受控的方式解吸，并触发基于DNA的反应和DNA纳米结构的自组装。我们证明了这种效果是特定的和通用的，并允许在同一溶液中正交控制多个反应和多个结构。而且，该策略是高度可调的，可以通过改变阴极电位，施加电位的周期以及芯片表面DNA链的密度进行精细调节。因此，我们的方法代表了一种远程控制基于DNA的电路和纳米结构组装的通用方法，并且可以允许基于DNA的纳米工具的新的可能应用。