On-Demand Aligned DNA Hydrogel Via Light Scanning

Abstract

DNA is an anisotropic, water-attracting, and biocompatible material, an ideal building block for hydrogel. The alignment of the anisotropic DNA chains is essential to maximize hydrogel properties, which has been little explored. Here, we present a method to fabricate the anisotropic DNA hydrogel that allows precise control for the polymerization process of photoreactive cationic monomers. Scanning ultraviolet light enables the uniaxial alignment of DNA chains through the polymerization-induced diffusive mass flow using a concentration gradient. While studying anisotropic mechanical properties and orientation recovery according to the DNA chain alignment direction, we demonstrate the potential of directionally controlled DNA hydrogels as smart materials.

Evaporation-induced self-assembly of liquid crystal biopolymers

“…Our approach aimed to advance the understanding of the formation mechanism by employing theoretical foundations comprehending the flow characteristics in evaporating solutions, polymer rheology, and the elastic properties of liquid crystal materials. Furthermore, recent report suggests the initial steps for practical applications of anisotropic biopolymers as fundamental building blocks, 170 aiming to enrich the material value of anisotropic biopolymers and unravel their distinctive behavior in confined, non-equilibrium systems.…”

Oligo-Adenine and Cyanuric Acid Supramolecular DNA-Based Hydrogels Exhibiting Acid-Resistance and Physiological pH-Responsiveness

“…Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based hydrogels represent interesting materials by using DNA as the 3D cross-linking units, taking advantage of its polymeric nature. − “Smart” DNA hydrogels responding to external stimuli, such as pH, ions, light, temperature, chemical or biocatalytic reactions, by transducing output signals, in the form of shape modulation, gel–sol transition, and mechanical switching, attracted intense recent research interest. − By employing noncanonical DNA structures, such as G-quadruplex, i-motif, hairpin, ligand-aptamer, cofactor-dependent DNAzyme, A-motif, or triplexes, , diverse applications have been demonstrated, including sensing, shape memory, loads encapsulation and release, extracellular matrix, electronics, and soft robotics. − …”