Controlled Degradation of DNA Capsules with Engineered Restriction-Enzyme Cut Sites

A study was conducted to demonstrate the controlled degradation of DNA films and capsules when using a restriction enzyme that recognized a degraded a specific sequence within the DNA assemblies. It was also demonstrated that the approach provided a mechanism for the specific release of of an encapsulated protein within the capsules. The study demonstrated that specific degradation sites were engineered into films or capsules without changing the chemical composition of the materials and that such sites allowed controlled release of a model protein through specific degradation of the capsules. The films investigated in the study were assembled by using a triblock oligonucleotide system in which the assembly process was driven by the hybridization of the homopolymeric outer blocks. A build-up of the film was initiated by electrostatic binding of a single homopolymeric block of poly-T30 to a planar or colloidal surface.