Machines transformed how we build things on a large scale, but the same methods do not work well at the tiny scale of nanotechnology, where parts cannot be put together by hand. DNA origami provides a way around this by allowing structures to build themselves. Just as a sheet of paper can fold into a shape through origami, DNA strands can be programmed to self-assemble into specific, functional nanostructures. This research looks into how these structures can be programmed to carry out tasks like detecting biological molecules or studying how proteins interact.

The PhD study was completed at Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday 5th September 2025 at 13:00.
Place: Building 1593, Room 012, iNANO Auditorium, iNANO Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C.
Title of PhD thesis: Programming Function into DNA Nanostructures.
Contact information: Emily Tsang, e-mail: etsang@inano.au.dk, tel.: +45 91744617.
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Barbara Saccà, Center of Medical Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
Professor Björn Högberg, Dept. of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
Professor Niels Christian Nielsen (chair), Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Professor Kurt V. Gothelf, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Co-supervisor: Associate Professor Victoria Birkedal, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Language: The PhD thesis will be defended in English

The defense is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C