Prof. Itamar Willner
(The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel)
The base sequence of nucleic acids (NAs) encodes substantial structural and functional information into the biopolymer. Structural information includes stimuli-responsive reversible reconfiguration of NAs nanostructures, such as G-quadruplexes, i-motif or triplex assemblies, and functional properties, such as sequence-specific recognition and binding of low-molecular-weight or macromolecular ligands (aptamers) and catalytic functions (DNAzymes). These features of NAs provide the basis for the development of the area of DNA nanotechnology. Our laboratory has developed over the years diverse topics, presenting key elements of DNA nanoscience related to DNA sensing and imaging, DNA switches and machines, NAs-based computing circuits and DNA-based structures. The present lecture will discuss recent advances in the development and applications of nanoparticle/microparticle-DNA hybrid materials, and particularly, introduce dynamic NAs-based materials and circuitries and their potential uses
16.00pm, Seminar Room