What if the smallest molecule of life became the ultimate medium for digital storage? Faced with the avalanche of data flooding the planet, researchers are exploring the physical structure of DNA, far beyond its genetic role, to store and protect information.
A collaboration at the University of Arizona has resulted in two studies published in
Advanced Functional Materials and
Nature Communications. This work demonstrates how DNA can be transformed into an extremely compact storage medium. The technique does not rely on genetic sequencing, but on the physical shape of DNA nanostructures. When they pass through a nanometer-scale sensor, their silhouette generates electrical signals that machine learning algorithms interpret to reconstruct text with great accuracy.
The approach offers several advantages. It is faster and potentially less costly than classical DNA storage methods. Its high density would allow for preserving colossal archives, whether scientific or cultural, in a minuscule space with remarkable durability. This path opens the door to very long-term, highly energy-efficient archiving systems.
Simultaneously, the team explored molecular encryption. The researchers designed DNA origami structures, folded into precise shapes. The information is no longer coded in bits, but in the arrangement and pattern of these nanostructures. This method creates a molecular code that only a specific tool can decipher, adding an intrinsic layer of security.
To read the hidden message, the scientists use an advanced form of super-resolution microscopy capable of visualizing each individual structure. Software then analyzes thousands of images to group similar patterns and translate them. Without this decoding key, the observed arrangements remain incomprehensible. The diversity of three-dimensional shapes further increases the number of possible combinations.
Hao Yan, a professor at the University of Arizona, explains that DNA is being treated as a platform and no longer just as genetic material. This vision allows for a complete rethinking of how data is stored and read at the nanoscale. The team thus brings together expertise in DNA nanotechnology, optical imaging, and artificial intelligence.
These two methods could one day converge. The rapid electronic reading of nanostructures could be combined with molecular encryption to create data systems that are both dense and secure. This could be useful for archiving sensitive data in challenging environments, such as extreme temperatures, where classical electronics show limitations.
Chao Wang, co-author of the studies, sees in this emerging field fertile ground for other applications, such as advanced biological detection or the creation of programmable nanodevices. By using a biological molecule as an information platform, the boundary between living organisms and digital technology is blurring.