Light-Controlled Ion Transport through Biomimetic DNA-Based Channels.

Light-controlled nanochannels are fabricated through self-assembling azobenzene-incorporated DNA (Azo-DNA) strands to regulate ion transport. By switching between collapsed and relaxed states using visible and ultraviolet light alternately, the Azo-DNA channels can be opened and closed because the conformation of Azo-DNA changes, that is, Azo-DNA is used as switchable controlling unit. In addition to sharing short response time and reversibility with other photoresponsive apparatuses, the Azo-DNA-based nanochannel system has advantages in good biocompatibility and versatile design, which could potentially be applied in light-controlled drug release, optical information storage, and logic networks.