DNA nanotechnology for controlled receptor clustering and immune detection

Abstract

DNA nanotechnology is a programmable platform to study and manipulate biological systems at the nanoscale. DNA nanostructures can be precisely designed to organize functional molecules with high spatial control, enabling new approaches in both fundamental biology and biomedical applications.

This thesis focuses on interactions within the immune system. First, DNA nanostructures were used to investigate how the spatial organization of cell surface receptors influences their activation, revealing that clustering at defined nanoscale arrangements is critical for efficient signalling. Second, modular DNA scaffolds were developed to present immune-related proteins in a controlled manner, enabling sensitive and specific detection of antigen-recognizing T cells, with potential applications in diagnostics. Finally, new strategies were established to improve the attachment of proteins to nucleic acids, addressing key technical challenges in the construction of such hybrid systems.

Overall, this thesis demonstrates how DNA nanotechnology can be applied to control molecular organization, study complex biological mechanisms and develop tools for immune monitoring.