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Press release from the Technical University of Munich. Source

New “Dipid” structures combine lipid assembly principles with DNA programmability, enabling customisable containers for synthetic biology and nanotechnology.

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Pioneer Campus have developed a new class of DNA-based building blocks that mimic the behaviour of lipids while retaining the programmability of DNA origami. These structures, called Dipids, can self-assemble into containers with customisable sizes, from 100 nanometres up to over 1 micrometre, large enough to enclose an entire bacterium. This breakthrough opens possibilities for engineering biomolecular robotic systems. Friedrich Simmel, Christoph Karfusehr, Marion Jasnin and Brice Beinsteiner are coauthors on the study. 

Why Combine Lipid and DNA Origami Principles? 

Microscopic containers are essential for many biological and synthetic systems. Lipid-based vesicles are widely used because they can form structures of a wide range of sizes. However, they are difficult to functionalise for complex tasks, such as biomolecular robotics. Protein-based or viral capsid-inspired DNA containers, on the other hand, are easy to functionalise but limited in shape and size due to their strict assembly rules. 

DNA origami subunits that are inspired by lipids, known as Dipids, bridge this gap. Inspired by lipid assembly principles, they offer flexibility in size and shape while maintaining the programmability and modularity of DNA origami.  

How Dipids Work 

Dipids are radially symmetric DNA barrels about 30 nm in diameter. By adjusting the length and sequence of 30 DNA strands on their surface, researchers can program Dipids to form flat membranes, hollow tubes, or closed containers of controlled sizes. Their modular design allows easy and low-cost conversion between different shapes without redesigning the core structure. 

From Design to Function 

The team created 74 Dipid designs predicted to form containers with varying curvature. Six were experimentally validated, producing structures with sizes from HIV capsids to bacteria and up to 1.2 µm in diameter, the largest DNA origami container reported to date. 

Dipid membranes are porous, enabling the selective passage of molecules. This feature allows for the continuous delivery of enzymes and substrates, something lipid vesicles struggle to achieve. The team further demonstrated functionalisation by incorporating modules for RNA transcription into Dipid container membranes and even encapsulating smaller DNA origami compartments akin to cellular organelles. By tuning the shape and binding preferences of Dipids, the team could also induce intramembrane self-organisation, reminiscent of lipid membranes. 

Seeing is Believing 

To visualise Dipid assemblies, the TUM team collaborated with Jasnin’s Cryoskeleton Lab at the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus to conduct cryo-electron tomography at the Cryo-Electron Microscopy Platform of Helmholtz Munich. Work by Jasnin and Beinsteiner revealed diverse Dipid membrane architectures, including stacked membranes, fully closed containers, and amorphous Dipid organisation in the smallest containers. 

A Platform for Biomolecular Robotics 

Dipids combine structural programmability, ease of design, and compatibility with functional modules. This “plug-and-play” framework could accelerate the development of synthetic systems that mimic cellular complexity—bringing biomolecular robotics closer to reality. 

Scientific publication 

Self-assembled cell-scale containers made from DNA origami membranes
Christoph Karfusehr, Markus Eder, Hao Yuan Yang, Brice Beinsteiner, Marion Jasnin and Friedrich C. Simmel
Nature Materials (2025)