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We report the use of DNA origami nanostructures, functionalized with aptamers, as a vehicle for delivering the antibacterial enzyme lysozyme in a specific and efficient manner. We test the system against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) targets. We use direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to characterize the DNA origami nanostructures and structured illumination microscopy (SIM) to assess the binding of the origami to the bacteria. We show that treatment with lysozyme-functionalized origami slows bacterial growth more effectively than treatment with free lysozyme. Our study introduces DNA origami as a tool in the fight against antibiotic resistance, and our results demonstrate the specificity and efficiency of the nanostructure as a drug delivery vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controllable fabrication of DNA origami structures was achieved using cationic comb-type copolymers (CCCs) as locks and polyvinyl sulphonic acid (PVS) as a key. A CCC binds to the phosphate backbone of either M13mp18/staples alone or both together and restricts origami folding, while PVS unlocks the CCC, restoring the formation of origami structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]