Engineering DNA as an Innovative Polymer

Host:

• Peng Yin, Ph.D.
• Core Faculty Member, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University
• Assistant Professor, Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School

Professor Luo's research focuses on engineering DNA as an innovative polymer -- using DNA as both genetic (bio) and generic (nano) materials. More specifically, inspired by synthetic polymers and combined with molecular biology's tool kits, his lab has engineered DNA into different topological structures, all in bulk-scale. His DNA-based structures and materials included dendrimer-like DNA, DNA nanobarcodes, DNA networks and hydrogells, DNA-based liposomes (DNAsomes), and DNA-organized nanoparticles. From these DNA materials, he is exploring real-world applications in diagnostics, cell-free protein production, synthetic cells, drug delivery, and novel optoelectronics.