Programmable DNA origami nanosyringe enables controlled membrane piercing and cargo delivery

Researchers report a programmable DNA origami nanosyringe (DOS) that anchors to membranes via a cholesterol base and uses DNA-fuel–driven sliding of a needle to puncture and reseal lipid bilayers, enabling on-demand, cargo-specific translocation: small molecules diffuse through the needle channels, while cargo tethered to the needle tip can be actively transported. In synthetic cells, the DOS triggers membrane-localized reactions such as hybridization chain reactions, RNA transcription, and catalytic RNA cleavage, demonstrating a modular platform for membrane-based control of biochemical processes.