Towards the development of an electrochemical random access DNA memory (e-RADM)

As a result of the exponentially growing amount of information being produced, new data storage solutions are required. DNA has attracted significant attention as a potential data storage medium thanks to several intrinsic properties, such as ultrahigh physical information density with up to 2 bits per nucleotide. Current DNA-based memories rely on sequencing strategies for data recovery. However, sequencing all DNA strands for data retrieval would be very time consuming and thus result in high levels of latency. Therefore, random access strategies are required to make DNA-based data storage a viable alternative. Here, we present our first steps towards the development of a compartmentalized electrochemical random access DNA memory (e-RADM) using cascade reactions controlled by DNA nanostructures immobilized on gold microelectrode arrays which will be triggered when a specific information retrieval query is put into the system. Electrodes containing the desired information can then be identified by Square Wave Voltammetry.