The secret ingredient of DNA self-assembly

Through decades of development in DNA nanotechnology, quite a number of ground breaking approaches have emerged to showcase the elegant concept of molecular self-assembly. Each method advanced the field by enabling daring creations. The double crossover motif, the first rigid structural motif, defined how DNA nanostructures were self-assembled with rigid components. DNA origami, whose formation is guided by a long scaffold, revolutionized the field by enabling self-assembly of unprecedented complexity. Single-stranded tiles/bricks, LEGOs at the nanoscale, gave rise to modular constructions of even higher complexity. Out of so many exciting methods, can we identify any secret ingredient? Do we have an omnipotent spell to make every new DNA self-assembly successful? Hopefully some clues can be found in this tutorial.