A DNA Origami Syringe for Programmable Membrane Translocation

Transmembrane cargo delivery plays an important role in biological processes and therapeutic applications, ranging from viral infection to engineered cell-penetrating systems. A recent report in Nature Nanotechnology demonstrates a novel approach to membrane perforation and cargo delivery through the controlled engineering of a DNA origami nanosyringe. The nanosyringe can physically penetrate the membrane and directly translocate cargo without relying on endocytosis or subsequent endosomal escape. At the same time, both needle insertion and retraction are precisely programmed through DNA strand-displacement reactions, enabling nanometer-scale and reversible mechanical motion. This programmable molecular machine provides a versatile platform for biological engineering, offering direct and spatially-controlled cargo translocation across lipid membranes.