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Cation-Responsive and Photocleavable Hydrogels from Noncanonical Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Fabrini, Giacomo 
Minard, Aisling 
Di Michele, Lorenzo  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1458-9747

Abstract

Thanks to its biocompatibility, versatility, and programmable interactions, DNA has been proposed as a building block for functional, stimuli-responsive frameworks with applications in biosensing, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. Of particular importance for in vivo applications is the possibility of making such nanomaterials responsive to physiological stimuli. Here, we demonstrate how combining noncanonical DNA G-quadruplex (G4) structures with amphiphilic DNA constructs yields nanostructures, which we termed "Quad-Stars", capable of assembling into responsive hydrogel particles via a straightforward, enzyme-free, one-pot reaction. The embedded G4 structures allow one to trigger and control the assembly/disassembly in a reversible fashion by adding or removing K+ ions. Furthermore, the hydrogel aggregates can be photo-disassembled upon near-UV irradiation in the presence of a porphyrin photosensitizer. The combined reversibility of assembly, responsiveness, and cargo-loading capabilities of the hydrophobic moieties make Quad-Stars a promising candidate for biosensors and responsive drug delivery carriers.

Description

Funder: Imperial College London

Keywords

Amphiphilic DNA, DNA nanotechnology, G-quadruplexes, self-assembly, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, Cations, DNA, G-Quadruplexes, Hydrogels, Nanostructures

Journal Title

Nano Lett

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1530-6984
1530-6992

Volume Title

22

Publisher

American Chemical Society (ACS)
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/R011605/1)
Royal Society (UF160152)
European Research Council (851667 NANOCELL, 851667)