Dynamic Nanostructures from DNA‐Coupled Molecules, Polymers, and Nanoparticles

Abstract

Dynamic and reconfigurable systems that can sense and react to physical and chemical signals are ubiquitous in nature and are of great interest in diverse areas of science and technology. DNA is a powerful tool for fabricating such smart materials and devices due to its programmable and responsive molecular recognition properties. For the past couple of decades, DNA‐based self‐assembly is actively explored to fabricate various DNA–organic and DNA–inorganic hybrid nanostructures with high‐precision structural control. Building upon past development, researchers have recently begun to design and assemble dynamic nanostructures that can undergo an on‐demand transformation in the structure, properties, and motion in response to various external stimuli. In this Review, recent advances in dynamic DNA nanostructures, focusing on hybrid structures fabricated from DNA‐conjugated molecules, polymers, and nanoparticles, are introduced, and their potential applications and future perspectives are discussed.

Chemically modified nucleic acid biopolymers used in biosensing

“…63 By modifying with hydrophobic groups, hydrophilic nucleic acids can turn into amphiphilic biopolymers, forming different structures through hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions. [64][65][66][67] Additionally, assemblies of specific size and shape can be obtained by changing the ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic chain length. 65,68,69 In this section, we will introduce chemically modified nucleic acid assemblies formed via hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions.…”

“…[64][65][66][67] Additionally, assemblies of specific size and shape can be obtained by changing the ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic chain length. 65,68,69 In this section, we will introduce chemically modified nucleic acid assemblies formed via hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions.…”

DNA Assembly‐Based Stimuli‐Responsive Systems

“…From a chemist's point of view, the i-motif structure has a pH stimuli-responsive property, so that it can be used not only as a biological target for chemical intervention but also for the synthesis of the intelligent functional nanostructures. [21,64] Up to date, i-motif sequences have been widely used in the construction of nanomachines, nanopores, logic systems, pH sensors, DNA origami, hydrogel, and functional nanostructures combined with other nanomaterials, [9,21,46,64,65] showing great application potential.…”

“…[45] These stimuli-responsive systems can also realize the dynamic regulation of DNA nanostructures by connecting, modifying, embedding or mixing with DNA (Scheme 1). [46,47] The development of DNA nanotechnology has brought unprecedented brilliance to the precise control of DNA nanostructures. However, the demand for the improvement of the control ability of conformation, function, and biocompatibility of DNA nanostructures has always existed.…”

Adaptive Nanoparticle‐Polymer Complexes as Optical Elements: Design and Application in Nanophotonics and Nanomedicine

“…Thus, the complex demonstrated a reversible temperature-induced phase transition related to LCST: when dispersed in a buffer at room temperature, the designed polymer Deoxyribonucleic acid-b-Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-Poly(methacrylic acid) (DNA-b-PNIPAM-b-PMA) formed spherical micelles with PMA core and DNA outer layer; while at the elevated temperature (above LCST), cylinder-like micelles were formed. [52,53] Very recently, temperature-dependent optical response of Au NP coated with PNIPAM was investigated by means of in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. The data obtained from spectroscopic ellipsometry were interpreted through a model based on the physicochemical properties of the NPs and their dielectric characteristics.…”