Bistable polynucleotide devices for the sensing and quantification of molecular events

A structure comprising a bistable molecular sensor for multiplexed detection of external stimuli, the bistable molecular sensor comprising a nucleic acid structure, comprising:

• a first polynucleotide shape and a second polynucleotide shape with a flexible linker therebetween, the first polynucleotide shape comprising a first shape inside surface and a first shape outside surface and the second polynucleotide shape comprising a second shape inside surface and a second shape outside surface, the first shape inside surface being capable of facing the second shape inside surface, the flexible linker comprising synthetic double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA);
• and
• one or more functional molecules bound to at least one of the first polynucleotide shape and the second polynucleotide shape,
• the bistable molecular sensor having one of two states, the two states being a closed state and an open state, wherein:
• in the open state, the first polynucleotide shape moves freely with respect to the second polynucleotide shape as constrained by the flexible linker;
• and
• in the closed state, the first polynucleotide shape is proximally positioned to the second polynucleotide shape,
• wherein the one or more functional molecules further comprise:
• a first actuation molecule;
• and
• a second actuation molecule,
• wherein an actuation mechanism of the bistable molecular sensor is configured such that a molecular event involving the first and second actuation molecules shifts an equilibrium conformation of the bistable molecular sensor towards the closed state, and
• wherein the one or more functional molecules further comprise a nucleotide barcode on at least one of the first shape outside surface and the second shape outside surface, wherein the nucleotide barcode is configured to be read out.