It is known that we can trap particles using DNA hydrogels. We developed a system that can wrap a target and then collect it using DNA hydrogels.
To achieve this, we developed a system that sorts target in two phases; capturing and collecting. We prepared DNA strands that grew from a same particle. The DNA strands had a linker region and a shrinking unit.
First, we captured the target by wrapping the target using a DNA hydrogel. The hydrogel was then captured by an arm made of DNA strands that could bind to DNA hydrogel on their linker regions.
Next, the arms shrank by the shrinking unit so that the hydrogel was collected to the particle.
This system can be applied to a man-made immune system by selectively capturing targets and collecting them to one voluntary point, detoxifying bacteria or foreign substances.