Mechanical-Kinetic Modeling of a Molecular Walker from a Modular Design Principle

Abstract

Nature has been developing nanoscale machines far longer than people have, but perhaps we are catching up a bit. To design high-performance nanomotors for our own purposes, mechanistic insight is needed. The authors present a synergistic mechanical-kinetic model for a modular DNA-based bipedal nanowalker, revealing counterintuitive properties. The model resolves the motor's working mechanism and identifies a specific structure in the motor's design that limits its performance, offering guidance for its improvement and for creating other motors from the same modular design principle.