Supra-molecular agents running tasks intelligently (SMARTI): recent developments in molecular logic-based computation

Abstract

The field of molecular information handling and processing from a Boolean starting point has grown strongly during the past five years to make important contributions to the areas of intracellular computation, delivery of functional species and information security. Additionally, there has been consolidation of the original avenue of multi-input sensing devices, besides contributions to complex, multivalued and reconfigurable logic systems. Small supramolecules form the majority of these devices, though there is a strong showing from DNA and protein devices operating in a supramolecular fashion. These devices serve as our agents to perform intelligent functions which we cannot do, such as within living cells. The design and engineering of supramolecular systems is responsible for the origin of molecular logic-based computation and for its longevity.