Controllable supramolecular “ring opening” polymerization based on DNA duplex

Rigidity-dependent formation process of DNA supramolecular hydrogels

“…In previous studies, the fast formation of DNA supramolecular hydrogels within seconds was observed, which was explained by the rigidity of the building blocks 19 . The rigidity potentially determines the gelation process by tuning the dynamic balance between the cyclization and chain extension of the building blocks, which has been proven in linear supramolecular polymerization systems [38][39][40] . For example, Zhang et al designed a bifunctional monomer with self-sorting properties and demonstrated that the increased monomer rigidity could further promote supramolecular polymerization 38 .…”

Rigidity dependent formation process of DNA supramolecular hydrogel

“…In the previous studies, the fast formation of the DNA supramolecular hydrogels in seconds have been observed, which was explained by the rigidity of the building blocks 19 . The rigidity would potentially determine the gelation process through tuning the dynamic balance between cyclization and chain extension of the building blocks, which has been proved in the linear supramolecular polymerization systems [38][39][40] 39 . While the importance of the monomer rigidity on the supramolecular polymerization has been well recognized, how the rigidity of the building block affects the supramolecular gelation process has been rarely studied.…”

Recent Progress in DNA Motor-Based Functional Systems

“…Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is well-known as the main carrier of genetic information for living organisms and has been widely studied in life science. , Since the establishment of the Watson–Crick base-pairing model, DNA has also attracted attention in nanoscience and nanotechnology for the development of automated solid synthesis . After Seeman et al first applied DNA to assemble nanostructures based on the specific base-paring of single-stranded DNA overhangs in the 1980s, taking advantage of the sequence programmability of DNA, sophisticated two-dimensional and three-dimensional nanostructures have been fabricated by rational design. − With the development of static nanostructures, the designability and functionalization of DNA has also inspired researchers to design DNA motors based on the dynamic responsiveness of DNA motifs. , Primitive DNA motors were designed to perform nanoscale motion at the molecular level, and the operating basis for this work is the controllable transformation of DNA molecular structures or conformations . In addition to the motion function, mechanical power generation is an important function of molecular motors, and subsequent studies were concerned with the improvement of the mechanical output and operation speed of DNA motors to achieve a wider range of applications. − Basically two types of DNA motors have been designed based on the driven force (Table ).…”