FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Plain-language answers about DNA Nanobots, the Genobot platform and the preclinical programs.
What is DNA Nanobots?
DNA Nanobots, Inc. is a preclinical biotechnology company founded in 2021 as a spin-out from The Ohio State University. The company is developing the Genobot, a programmable, non-viral gene delivery platform based on scaffolded DNA origami. The initial focus is on rare and genetic diseases.
What is a Genobot?
A Genobot is a structurally engineered delivery system made from DNA. DNA origami is a method of folding DNA strands into precise three-dimensional shapes. Using it, a gene-bearing DNA scaffold is folded into a defined nanoscale structure designed to carry a therapeutic gene toward a target cell. It is not a robot in the conventional sense: it has no moving parts, no onboard computing and no autonomous behaviour. Its programmability is encoded in its structure.
What is DNA origami?
DNA origami is a method that uses the complementary base-pairing properties of DNA to fold strands into defined three-dimensional structures. It originated in academic research in the 2000s and has been refined to produce structures with nanometre-scale precision. DNA Nanobots applies DNA origami to build gene delivery structures.
Why non-viral delivery?
Viral vectors have proven the biological premise of gene therapy, but their architecture places limits on packaging capacity, on where a therapy is distributed, and on whether it can be given more than once. A non-viral, structurally engineered approach is being developed to address those constraints. All of this work is preclinical.
Which diseases is DNA Nanobots working on?
The company is focused on rare and genetic diseases, specifically single-gene conditions where gene delivery is a plausible therapeutic approach. The current preclinical work is focused on Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Does DNA Nanobots work on cancer, vaccines or diagnostics?
No. The company is focused on rare and genetic diseases. It does not have programs in oncology, chemotherapy, vaccines, diagnostics or biosensing.
Is there an approved treatment or an open clinical trial?
No. All programs are in preclinical development. DNA Nanobots has no approved products and is not currently conducting clinical trials. Nothing on this website is medical advice or an offer of treatment.
How can my organization work with DNA Nanobots?
The Biopharma Partner Program supports collaborations with biopharma companies, research institutions and rare-disease organizations. Structures range from research collaboration through co-development and licensing discussions, defined per program.