A method for the generation of a G-quadruplex structure on a target nucleic acid sequence is presented. The approach combines the specificity of Watson-Crick base pair with the stability associated with a robust G-quadruplex scaffold. The induction of such bimolecular quadruplex-duplex hybrids can be applied within the antigene or antisense context for enhanced steric blockage to the transcriptional or translational machinery. In addition, such structures provide unique features for ligand design. This approach also allows the site-specific generation of G-quadruplex structures within nucleic acid nanoarchitectures.