Today, the Shanghai Science and Technology Conference and Award Ceremony was held. The project led by Professor Zuo Xiaolei from the School of Medicine's Renji Hospital and the DNA Storage Research Center of the Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study won the First Prize in the 2023 Shanghai Natural Science Awards.

Project Overview

Title: Design and Detection Applications of Framework Nucleic Acid Biosensing Systems

Team Members: Zuo Xiaolei, Wang Lihua, Ge Zhilei, Liu Xiaoguo, Fan Chunhai

This project addresses a major national strategic need in health and life sciences. It systematically explores key scientific problems in high-sensitivity analysis of biomolecular markers. The team discovered how size, morphology, and mechanical properties of nucleic acid assemblies regulate interface ordering and signal controllability. They pioneered the concept of “framework nucleic acids,” proposing new ideas for constructing ordered biosensing interfaces and programmable signal regulation. The project developed new methods for confined nucleic acid assembly analysis, overcoming limitations in molecular recognition efficiency and signal control, and established high-sensitivity sensing techniques suitable for complex biological systems. The results significantly advanced sensor science and promoted interdisciplinary integration with analytical chemistry and clinical diagnostics.