Self-assembly, which is ubiquitous in living systems, also stimulates countless synthetic molecular self-assembling systems. Most synthetic self-assemblies are realized by passive processes, going from high-energy states to thermodynamic equilibrium. Conversely, living systems work out of equilibrium, meaning they are energy-consuming, dissipative and active. In recently years, chemists have made extensive efforts to design artificial active self-assembly systems, which will be pivotal to emulating and understanding life. Among various strategies, emerging approaches based on DNA nanotechnology have attracted a lot of attention. Structural- as well as dynamic-DNA-nanotechnology offer diverse tools with which to design building blocks and to shape their assembly behaviors. To achieve active self-assembly, a synergy of diverse DNA techniques is essential, including structural design, controllable assembly–disassembly, autonomous assembly, molecular circuits, biochemical oscillators, and so on. In this review, we introduce progress towards, or related to, active assembly via DNA nanotechnology. Dynamic DNA assembly systems ranging from passive assembly–disassembly systems, to autonomous assembly systems to sophisticated artificial metabolism and time-clocking oscillation systems will be discussed. We catalogue these systems from the perspective of free energy change with the reaction process. We end the review with a brief outlook and discussion.

自组装在生命系统中无处不在，也刺激了无数合成分子自组装系统。大多数合成自组装都是通过被动过程实现的，从高能态到热力学平衡。相反，生命系统工作不平衡，这意味着它们耗能，耗散且活跃。近年来，化学家们在设计人工主动自组装系统方面付出了巨大的努力，这对于模拟和理解生命至关重要。在各种策略中，基于DNA纳米技术的新兴方法引起了很多关注。结构DNA和动态DNA纳米技术提供了多种工具，可用来设计构件和塑造其组装行为。为了实现主动自组装，多种DNA技术的协同作用是必不可少的，包括结构设计，可控制的装配-拆卸，自主装配，分子电路，生化振荡器等。在这篇评论中，我们介绍了通过DNA纳米技术向主动组装或与之相关的进展。讨论了动态DNA装配系统，从被动装配-拆卸系统，到自主装配系统，再到复杂的人工新陈代谢和计时振荡系统。我们从自由能随反应过程变化的角度对这些系统进行分类。我们以简短的展望和讨论结束了本评论。通过DNA纳米技术进行主动装配。讨论了动态DNA装配系统，从被动装配-拆卸系统，到自主装配系统，再到复杂的人工新陈代谢和计时振荡系统。我们从自由能随反应过程变化的角度对这些系统进行分类。我们以简短的展望和讨论结束了本评论。通过DNA纳米技术进行主动装配。讨论了动态DNA装配系统，从被动装配-拆卸系统，到自主装配系统，再到复杂的人工新陈代谢和计时振荡系统。我们从自由能随反应过程变化的角度对这些系统进行分类。我们以简短的展望和讨论结束了本评论。