Blueprints of the DNA Archimedean Polyhedra with Minimum Component Number

Abstract

DNA has emerged as a versatile material for constructing functional nanostructures with specific topological arrangements, making it highly desirable for synthesizing of DNA nanostructures using minimal components. In this study, we propose a novel approach to fabricate polyhedra using the fewest possible components and investigate the roles played by different components. Our results reveal that even-sided polygon components are composed of subunits distributed contiguously or alternately, while odd-sided polygon components are composed of subunits distributed alternately, which play a crucial role in reducing the overall component number to the limitation. These findings indicate that the minimum number of components required to construct a DNA Archimedean polyhedron depends on the types of polygons involved. Additionally, our approach not only exhibits high selectivity but also offers novel insights into precise control over DNA polyhedra with specific functionalities.