2026-04-24 ニューヨーク大学（NYU）
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2026/april/hot-takes–chemistry-researcher-simon-vecchioni-explains-how-to-.html
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2590238525005132
金属を介したDNAメモリの電気的制御 Electrical control of a metal-mediated DNA memory
Bo Liu, Brandon Lu, Arpan De, Kyoungdu Kim, Lara Perren, Karol Woloszyn, Galina Petrova, Ruihao Li, Chu-fan Yang, Chengde Mao, Antia S. Botana, Yoel P. Ohayon, James W. Canary, Ruojie Sha, M.P. Anantram, Simon Vecchioni, Joshua Hihath
Matter Available online 6 October 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102470
Graphical abstract
Highlights
- Single-molecule DNA memory: writable, readable, erasable on nanofabricated platform
- Precise, pH-mediated placement of metallic ions (Hg2+, Ag+) within the mmDNA
- DNA crystallography visualized the metal ion exchange, confirming the memory mechanism
- DNA memory switches 48 times, repeatedly readable with robust, rewritable function
Progress and potential
The unique chemical programming capabilities of DNA have transformed it from a simple carrier of genetic information into a broadly functional nanomaterial, making it a central element in nanoengineered structures, materials, computational systems, and data-storage paradigms. Along these lines, DNA’s potential for creating high-density, low-energy-cost information storage systems has garnered significant interest; however, retrieving data from these systems relies on sequencing techniques and remains incompatible with modern electronic systems, hindering scalability and real-time operation. In this paper, we demonstrate that DNA can be used as a fully electronic, chip-integrated ternary memory system. This system utilizes individual, metal-mediated DNA duplexes as an active unit to read, write, and erase digital data. The electrical state of a single thymine:thymine metal base pair within the DNA duplex is modulated by electrically gating the system to atomically position Ag+ and Hg2+ ions in one of three distinct coordination states. The devices can be cycled reversibly, opening new avenues for electronic DNA-based data storage.
Summary
We demonstrate that a single DNA duplex that is designed to allow binding to specific metal ions (Hg2+/Ag+) and <3 nm in length can function as a fully electronic multi-bit memory system (+1, 0, −1). The system is reversible, allowing digital information to be electrically written, read, and erased in a solid-state, chip-based platform. This demonstrates a method that can enable DNA-based systems to be integrated with conventional electronics at scale and to electrically control chemical reactions that allow the electronic structure within the DNA to be modified to store information.
