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Bipedal Nanowalker by Pure Physical Mechanisms

Juan Cheng, Sarangapani Sreelatha, Ruizheng Hou, Artem Efremov, Ruchuan Liu, Johan R. C. van der Maarel, and Zhisong Wang
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 238104 – Published 6 December 2012
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Abstract

Artificial nanowalkers are inspired by biomolecular counterparts from living cells, but remain far from comparable to the latter in design principles. The walkers reported to date mostly rely on chemical mechanisms to gain a direction; they all produce chemical wastes. Here we report a light-powered DNA bipedal walker based on a design principle derived from cellular walkers. The walker has two identical feet and the track has equal binding sites; yet the walker gains a direction by pure physical mechanisms that autonomously amplify an intrasite asymmetry into a ratchet effect. The nanowalker is free of any chemical waste. It has a distinct thermodynamic feature that it possesses the same equilibrium before and after operation, but generates a truly nonequilibrium distribution during operation. The demonstrated design principle exploits mechanical effects and is adaptable for use in other nanomachines.

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  • Received 24 June 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.238104

© 2012 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Waste-Free Nanowalkers

Published 6 December 2012

A nanowalker made of DNA moves along biomolecules without chemically altering them.

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Authors & Affiliations

Juan Cheng1, Sarangapani Sreelatha1, Ruizheng Hou1,3, Artem Efremov1, Ruchuan Liu1,2,4, Johan R. C. van der Maarel1, and Zhisong Wang1,2,3,*

  • 1Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
  • 2NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
  • 3Center for Computational Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542
  • 4Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore

  • *Corresponding author. phywangz@nus.edu.sg

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Issue

Vol. 109, Iss. 23 — 7 December 2012

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