Conventional nanosensors often rely on dual-receptor or sandwich architectures. Detection therefore requires sufficiently large molecules with two suitable binding sites, such as two epitopes. Small molecules, nucleic acids or single-epitope targets may not generate a sufficient signal. In addition, many existing sensors measure intensity changes rather than directly resolving the molecular motion underlying the detection event.

The technology introduces a mechanically responsive nanosensor in which one binding structure per joint is sufficient to generate a detectable signal. Target binding changes or limits the destruction-free mobility between two nanostructures, for example by blocking a hinge or reducing a defined rotation angle. DNA origami can be used to precisely position the structures, hinges, receptors and optical labels. Detection is possible through single-molecule fluorescence tracking, FRET or surface plasmon resonance, enabling flexible sensor formats for different analytes and readout platforms.