Despite limited time and resources, we have gone all out to let the essence of our idea shine through in the final structure. Our work is not a device with functions set in stone but a nano-platform of immense potential for further applications. It can adopt a wide variety of functions through proper modifications on the original structure. The room for creativity cannot be ignored.

 

There are a number of potential directions to take our structure from here on. The following is a demonstration of how we can exploit its several features all at once:

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A Smart Invader 

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One of the key features of our structure is the turning of the two lids. It allows our nano-device to be able to change identity akin to a double agent. (SEE ANIMATION) 

 

When the two lids are in the default position, our structure adopts the ''flat-on-top'' state. To make the explanation easier, we conveniently call the surfaces of the lids we see initially ''identity 1''. Later, as the two lids rotate and finally meet, ''identity 1'' will in turn be hidden. Now, we tentatively call the new surfaces of the lids shown ''identity 2''. This is how our little double agent does the trick.  

 

With the above being said, we take a step further and apply the structure to cancer therapy. As we know, S15-APT is able to facilitate endocytosis into human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. If we let the S15-APTs-decorated surfaces be our "identity 1", then the lung cancer A549 cells would theoretically uptake our structure.  However, here comes a problem. What if other cells also uptake our structure? Since it is made of DNA, which could potentially trigger immune response, it is more than likely to be engulfed by white blood cells. In order to solve this problem, we need to introduce the ''fool-proof function'' of our structure. 

 

The two lids can not only change the ''identity'' of our structure but double-check the targeted cell. Our ideal goal is to achieve the following: only when the two lids are all turned by the specific bio-markers within the cancer cells can our structure launch attacks. With this, the accuracy of the treatment is expected to be optimized. 

 

Even though the details for the attacking mechanism have not been thought through yet, we envisage modifying the lids with biochemical reactants that can interact with each other when the two lids are turned and become close enough. The reaction products can serve as weapons for our little double agent to attack cancer cells. As for this part, please check out the subsection below for more detailed explanation. 

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Subsection: A Biochemical Reacting Platform 

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Our structure can also serve as a platform for specific biochemical interaction. For example, if

we want to bind two proteins, chances are that the correct reaction angle would be hard to find

due to the random molecular motion. Even if the two proteins are bound, they might not

have sufficient time to interact with each other. (Fig.1) However, with our structure, we can

create a stable micro-environment for protein interaction. Imagining coating different proteins

on each lid, the random movements of proteins could be drastically reduced, allowing the

whole interaction be conducted via lid rotation at the right angle as well as within a proper

amount of time. (Fig.2)

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Now let us take a step back and inspect our structure again. As we have demonstrated in the animation, it has four conformations induced by specific DNA fragments. They are ''flat-on-top'', ''right-lid-up'', ''left-lid-up'', and ''two-lid-up'' states respectively. If we can modify each lid with different bio-markers, we can somehow create a nano-biosensor that indicates the bio-molecules via the conformational change. The mechanism is similar to that of our experiment. 

 

Although the majority of this demonstration still remains a theory, it surely shows the versatility of our structure. We believe our multi-functional device can inspire more new ideas for nano-biomedicine in the future, and we are more than willing to be one of the contributors in this rising field.