Fig. 1. Functional DNA-based cytoskeletons for synthetic cells.
Schematic of a cell-sized microfluidic droplet, containing multi-functional DNA-based filaments. The DNA-based filaments undergo dynamic assembly and disassembly triggered by strand-displacement reactions or aptamer–target interactions. Moreover, apparent guided directional transport of organic lipid membrane vesicles or inorganic gold nanoparticles along the filament tracks is powered by ribonuclease H (RNase H)-mediated hydrolysis.