Abstract

This chapter overviews the past and current state of the emerging research area in the field of nanoscience that make use of synthetic DNA to self-assemble into DNA nanostructures and to make operational molecular-scale devices. Recently there have been a series of quite astonishing experimental results- which have taken the technology from a state of intriguing possibilities into demonstrated capabilities of quickly increasing scale and complexity. We discuss the design and demonstration of molecular-scale devices that make use of DNA nanostructures to achieve: molecular patterning, molecular computation, amplified sensing and nanoscale transport. We particularly emphasize molecular devices that make use of techniques that seem most promising, namely ones that are programmable (the tasks executed can be modified without entirely redesigning the nanostructure) and autonomous (executing steps with no external mediation after starting). 1.

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