A universal platform for multiple logic operations based on self-assembled a DNA tripod and graphene oxide

Abstract Molecular logic gates are being applied to develop smart molecular devices for biological and biomedical applications. However, most existing molecular logic gates were constructed separately without integration, and hence their loose and jumbled structures are unfavorable to further applications. Herein, we adopt an integration design strategy to assemble three DNA probes into a DNA nanotripod and combine it with graphene oxide to build a simple and integrated platform for diverse logic operations. The assembly of multiple DNA probes and integration design produce positive synergy, which induces versatility and dramatically simplifies the construction of logic gates. Based on this simple and integrated DNA nanotripod-graphene oxide platform, a three-input majority gate, multiple elementary logic gates, and a combinatorial gate were readily realized. Further, a molecular logic computing model for the selection of composite numbers from 0 to 9 was constructed with only one DNA nanotripod and four short single-stranded DNA. Additionally, the DNA nanotripod-graphene oxide platform was able to perform logic operations steadily in a biological matrix, demonstrating its potential for use in complex environments. Due to the generality of the three DNA probes and graphene oxide used, these molecular logic gates are easy to extend for future applications, such as multi-parameter smart biosensing, stimuli-responsive cargo delivery, and intelligent diagnosis and drug release.