The PANDAS Lab focuses on the rational design and programmable assembly of nucleic acid nanostructures to address key challenges in therapeutic delivery and synthetic biology. By leveraging the unique programmability, biocompatibility, and structural precision of nucleic acid-based materials, we aim to develop next-generation delivery platforms for mRNA, CRISPR components, and nucleic acid drugs. These platforms are engineered for high efficiency, safety, and adaptability, enabling spatiotemporally controlled delivery in complex biological environments.
In parallel, we are developing nucleic acid-based programmable self-assembly systems as functional bridges between inorganic nanomaterials and microbial systems. Through rational spatial organization and molecular interfacing, we endow engineered microbes with novel functions. This hybrid bio–nano platform enables precise manipulation of biological behavior using structurally defined nucleic acid frameworks, opening new possibilities in synthetic symbiosis, smart bioreactors, and responsive living materials.