Putting DNA to Work as Generic Polymeric Materials

Abstract

DNA is a true polymer that stores the genetic information of an organism. With its amazing biological and polymeric characteristics, DNA has been regarded as a universal building block for the construction of diverse materials for real‐world applications. Through various approaches including ligation, polymerization, chemical crosslinking, and physical crosslinking, both pure and hybrid DNA gels have been developed as generic materials. This Review discusses recent advances in the construction of DNA‐based networks without considering any of DNA′s genetic properties. In addition, we highlight the biomedical and non‐biomedical applications of DNA as generic materials. Owing to the superb molecular recognition, self‐assembly, and responsiveness of DNA, a mushrooming number of DNA materials with various properties have been developed for general utilization.

Modulation of Biofilm Mechanics by DNA Structure and Cell Type

“…Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is one of the most intensively studied organic compounds. In addition to storing and encoding genetic information, DNA is interesting from a materials science and engineering perspective. , DNA molecules’ unique physical and chemical properties render them an essential building component for DNA-based generic materials . In many natural biological structures, DNA acts as a construction material.…”

“… 1 , 2 DNA molecules’ unique physical and chemical properties render them an essential building component for DNA-based generic materials. 3 In many natural biological structures, DNA acts as a construction material. The best examples are biofilms, where microbial cells are embedded in a polymer matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs).…”

RNA-Polymer Hybrids via Direct and Site-Selective Acylation with the ATRP Initiator and Photoinduced Polymerization

“…Over the past decade, the potential of nucleic acids from biomass as a novel building block for the fabrication of sustainable biocompatible materials has been demonstrated. ,, This inspired us to explore our method and extend the scope of RNA that can be used to biomass RNA ( bm RNA) extracted from torula yeast (Figure A). We first prepared a bm RNA macroinitiator by mixing 10 mg of bm RNA with 100 μL of 0.6 M Br-Ala-AI reagent in anhydrous DMSO.…”

“…2 Recent insights gained from the engineering of DNA-based materials and DNA-polymer conjugates have been instrumental in guiding the development of RNA-based nanomaterials and RNA-polymer hybrids. 3,4 The fabrication of the RNA-synthetic polymer hybrid materials has been facilitated through one of the following approaches: (1) noncovalent attachment of pre-synthesized polymers with RNA by electrostatic interactions 5 or hydrogen bonding; 6,7 (2) covalent grafting of pre-synthesized polymers onto RNA equipped with reactive handles through coupling reactions such as (strain-promoted or copper-catalyzed) azide−alkyne cycloadditions, 8−10 amidation, 11 or disulfide exchange; 12,13 (3) covalent conjugation of a polymerization initiator or acrylate moiety into RNA structures and subsequent polymerization from the RNA macroinitiators; 14,15 or grafting through RNA-acrylate macromonomers. 16,17 Importantly, the noncovalent and the covalent coupling strategies have distinct advantages and disadvantages.…”

“…They combine programmable self-assembly and biocompatibility with the versatility and diversity of synthetic polymers bringing enhanced properties of the molecular chimeras . Recent insights gained from the engineering of DNA-based materials and DNA-polymer conjugates have been instrumental in guiding the development of RNA-based nanomaterials and RNA-polymer hybrids. , …”