Yu Lei

Nanotechnology and genetics are currently two of the most exciting fields in science, yet they are seldom combined. Enter Yu Lei, who uses DNA encapsulated in a nanoparticle to combat environmental pollution. “My work brings these two technologies together,” says Lei, “making them even more powerful.”

It all started when Lei was developing nanoparticles to deliver surfactant, a compound that helps disperse oil in water, to help flush oil residue out of underground channels. Lei and his associates began to wonder what else they could contain within this calcium carbonate shell. They settled on an unlikely candidate: DNA.

As Lei explains, DNA’s function is analogous to that of a barcode. Extremely sensitive to environmental factors like temperature, DNA bears within its structure a sign of the temperatures to which it has been exposed. At colder temperatures, a single strand of DNA occurs in what’s called a “hairpin” structure, pairing complementary base pairs within itself. At higher temperatures, however, the DNA changes state, allowing it to form a double helix.

Lei investigates how this morphing capability can have real-world applications, for example in the oil industry. Nanoparticles comprised of DNA and ferrofluid can be injected into a well and retrieved later using a magnet. Depending on where the particles are collected, scientists can determine the subterranean movement of oil and, based on the shape of the DNA, understand something of the conditions underground. Knowing the oil’s direction of travel as well as factors such as underground temperature can make oil extraction more efficient and less costly.

According to Lei, his particle’s possibilities are endless. “Right now we’re using this particle to track oil flow under the earth, but this particle is extremely versatile. Given its flexibility, the only limit to its application is our imagination.”