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Researchers at the University of North Carolina have developed microscopic robots—built from DNA and inorganic materials—that can fold and unfold in response to their environment. These nanoscale structures, shaped like flowers, are designed to mimic how living organisms sense and respond to changes in their surroundings.
The “DNA flowers,” as the team calls them, are made using a combination of synthetic DNA and materials such as gold or graphene oxide. The DNA acts as a programmable component, controlling how the structures behave under different conditions, including changes in acidity and temperature. When the surrounding environment shifts—such as becoming more acidic—the DNA structures fold in on themselves. Once conditions return to normal, they reopen.
This reversible motion allows the structures to operate like soft robots on the molecular level. The potential applications are wide-ranging. In the medical field, they could one day be swallowed or implanted to release drugs in targeted areas of the body, collect tissue samples, or even assist in clearing blockages in blood vessels.
According to Interesting Engineering, the technology relies on a process called programmable DNA assembly, which uses the base-pairing rules of DNA to guide how nanoparticles come together into specific shapes. The result is a hybrid material that remains structurally stable while also being highly responsive to environmental cues.
While still in early stages, the researchers say the system opens up possibilities beyond medicine. For example, similar soft robots could be used to monitor pollution or respond to changes in environmental conditions. Because the materials are small, adaptable, and energy-efficient, they may even offer new options for data storage in the future.
Inspired by natural systems like coral movement and the folding of flower petals, the team hopes to bring the responsiveness of biological organisms into engineered materials—essentially creating materials that behave like living systems.
This development marks a step toward smart, adaptive nanomaterials that can operate autonomously and interact with the world on a microscopic scale.
The research was published in the Nature Nanotechnology Journal.
