A Scientist's March of Script Ohio | Mike Hudoba | TEDxOhioStateUniversity

DNA Origami & Applications - DNA origami is the science of folding DNA into mechanisms and machines, utilizing DNA as a construction material at the nanoscale (1 billionth of a meter) [4][6] - Typical origami structures have dimensions of approximately 100 nanometers, smaller than the wavelength of visible light, making them suitable for investigating biological systems [7] - DNA origami leverages the ATCG binding rule to self-assemble structures from a long single-stranded DNA scaffold and shorter staple strands [11][13][14] - In 2006, Dr Paul Rothman introduced DNA origami, demonstrating the creation of shapes like stars and smiley faces [17] Research & Development - Research focuses on creating force sensors to measure forces in biological systems using DNA origami [18] - The creation of a DNA origami replica of the Ohio State marching band's Script Ohio, composed of 192 tokens, each representing a band member, earned a Guinness World Record [19][20][26] - The design process involves introducing stress into a straight rod of DNA origami by adding too much DNA in some spots and not enough in others, causing it to bend into the desired shape [23] Targeted Drug Delivery - Targeted drug delivery for cancer treatment is a key application, aiming to improve the precision of drug delivery to cancerous cells while minimizing harm to healthy cells [27][28] - A "Trojan horse" device, designed to be easily absorbed by cancerous cells, carries drugs directly to the nucleus, bypassing cellular defense mechanisms [28][29][30] - These structures can potentially recognize and attach to cancerous cells via unique genetic sequences (A's, T's, G's, and C's), ensuring targeted delivery [31][32] Educational Initiatives - Current research involves creating DNA origami experiments for middle school, high school, and undergraduate students, using readily available equipment [34]