The construction of a high‐strength hydrogel with integrated functions by photo‐initiated copolymerization of temperature‐sensitive and hydrogen‐bonding monomers is described. The hydrogen‐bonding and thermoresponsive surface of hydrogels offers a multifunctional platform, where reverse gene transfection and gene‐modified cell detachment can be achieved for the potential use in the regeneration and replacement of soft tissue.
Hydrogel particles are versatile materials that provide exquisite, tunable control over the sequestration and delivery of materials in pharmaceutics, tissue engineering, and photonics. The favorable properties of hydrogel particles depend largely on their size, and particles ranging from nanometers to micrometers are used in different applications. Previous studies have only successfully fabricated these particles in one specific size regime and required a variety of materials and fabrication methods. A simple yet powerful system is developed to easily tune the size of polypeptide-based, thermoresponsive hydrogel particles, from the nano- to microscale, using a single starting material. Particle size is controlled by the self-assembly and unique phase transition behavior of elastin-like polypeptides in bulk and within microfluidic-generated droplets. These particles are then stabilized through ultraviolet irradiation of a photo-crosslinkable unnatural amino acid (UAA) cotranslationally incorporated into the parent polypeptide. The thermoresponsive property of these particles provides an active mechanism for actuation and a dynamic responsive to the environment. This work represents a fundamental advance in the generation of crosslinked biomaterials, especially in the form of soft matter colloids, and is one of the first demonstrations of successful use of UAAs in generating a novel material.
This review focuses on surface-grafted DNA, and its use as a molecular building block that exploits its unique properties as a directional (poly)anion that exhibits molecular recognition. The selected examples highlight innovative applications of DNA at surfaces and interfaces ranging from molecular diagnostics and sequencing to biosensing.
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