Non-equilibrium cyclic conformations of DNA under electrokinetic confinement

RECON drives confined DNA in nanowells into non-equilibrium conformations, with distinct states quantified by radius of gyration tensor and controlled cycling under periodic driving.

• Why it matters: Static nanofluidic confinement limits real-time control of polymer conformations, leaving a gap in how to actively manipulate single-molecule dynamics.
• What they did: The study uses reversible electrokinetic confinement with stochastic and periodic field modulation, measuring conformations via the radius of gyration tensor and tracking hysteresis in shape anisotropy.
• The result: Periodic driving enables controlled cycling across conformational states and reveals hysteresis linked to driving frequency and amplitude, establishing RECON for active single-molecule manipulation.

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