Conventional storage media will soon be outpaced by the exponential growth of digital information. DNA could provide the needed technological leap due to its high storage density, longevity, and energy efficiency. A key challenge is how to access specific information from large-scale databases of DNA strands. Current approaches rely on batch processes, in which DNA strands that contain data of interest are amplified and enriched by molecular biology processes, separated from reagents, and purified. However, these steps are destructive, non-continuous, and incapable of supporting dynamic and reusable file functions. One solution would be to immobilize the DNA database on a high surface area material, off of which data can be copied and accessed by flowing through molecular biology reagents without disrupting the file database. Here, we describe our work immobilizing DNA on highly porous, 3-dimensional, soft dendritic cellulosic colloids to make a continuous packed-bed storage medium. We first studied the morphological changes of the colloidal particles induced by chemical surface activation and functionalized the particles with magnetic particles to facilitate physical handling. We then assessed the binding of DNA and observed more than 60% efficiency. Finally, we demonstrated non-destructive file access by transcribing the colloid-bound DNA into freely soluble RNA that can be collected and sequenced. This work lays the foundation for developing a new hybrid material to store DNA-based information databases, with the potential to provide cost-effective, energy-efficient and long-lasting data storage systems.

Immobilizing file-encoded DNA on ultra-high surface area, magnetic, soft dendritic colloids for DNA-based data storage

ACS Spring 2022

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