Nanotechnology and Nucleic Acids

The peculiarities of two approaches in the nanodesign based on the double-stranded nucleic acid molecules are considered. Main attention is devoted to the formation and properties of nanoconstructions based on the double-stranded DNA molecules and the complexes with chitosan, fixed in the spatial structure of particles of their cholesteric liquidcrystalline dispersions, and cross-linked by artificial nanobridges consisting of alternating copper ions and daunomycin molecules. In contrast to initial DNA liquid-crystalline particles, the structure of resulting nanoconstruction is not “liquidcrystalline” any more; rather it is rigid, crystal-like, three-dimensional structure. The formed nanoconstructions possess the unique spatial and optical properties; this opens a gate for their application in biotechnology and medicine.