Biosensor design is important to bioanalysis yet challenged by the restricted target accessibility at the biomolecule-surface (bio-surface). The last two decades have witnessed the appearance of various “art-like” DNA nanostructures in one, two, or three dimensions, and DNA nanostructures have attracted tremendous attention for applications in diagnosis and therapy due to their unique properties (e.g., mechanical flexibility, programmable control over their shape and size, easy and high-yield preparation, precise spatial addressability and biocompatibility). DNA nanotechnology is capable of providing an effective approach to control the surface functionality, thereby increasing the molecular recognition ability at the bio-surface. Herein, we present a critical review of recent progress in the development of DNA nanostructures in one, two and three dimensions and highlight their biological applications including diagnostics and therapeutics. We hope that this review provides a guideline for bio-surface engineering with DNA nanostructures.

DNA as life’s genetic material has been widely investigated around the world. In recent years, with the fiery researches on nanomaterials, it also plays an important role in the development of material science due to its extraordinary molecular recognition capability and prominent structural features. In this mini review, we mainly overview the recent progresses of DNA guiding self-assembled nanostructures and nanofabrication. Typical DNA tile-based assembly and DNA origami nanotechnologies are presented, utilizing the recent 3D topology methods to fabricate multidimensional structures with unique properties. Then the site-specific nanomaterials synthesis and nano-DNA recognition on different DNA scaffolds/templates are demonstrated with excellent addressability, biocompatibility and structural programmability. Various nanomaterials, such as metals, carbon family materials, quantum dots, metal-organic frameworks, and DNA-based liquid crystals are briefly summarized. Finally, the present limitation and future promising development directions are discussed in conclusion and perspective. We wish this review would provide useful information toward the broader scientific interests in DNA nanotechnology.