Biocomputing based on particle disassembly

Nat Nanotechnol. 2014 Sep;9(9):716-22. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2014.156. Epub 2014 Aug 17.

Abstract

Nanoparticles with biocomputing capabilities could potentially be used to create sophisticated robotic devices with a variety of biomedical applications, including intelligent sensors and theranostic agents. DNA/RNA-based computing techniques have already been developed that can offer a complete set of Boolean logic functions and have been used, for example, to analyse cells and deliver molecular payloads. However, the computing potential of particle-based systems remains relatively unexplored. Here, we show that almost any type of nanoparticle or microparticle can be transformed into autonomous biocomputing structures that are capable of implementing a functionally complete set of Boolean logic gates (YES, NOT, AND and OR) and binding to a target as result of a computation. The logic-gating functionality is incorporated into self-assembled particle/biomolecule interfaces (demonstrated here with proteins) and the logic gating is achieved through input-induced disassembly of the structures. To illustrate the capabilities of the approach, we show that the structures can be used for logic-gated cell targeting and advanced immunoassays.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Computers, Molecular*
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Ligands
  • Logic
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / metabolism
  • Nanotechnology

Substances

  • Ligands