nl1c03314_si_008.mp4 (3.75 MB)
Download fileCation-Responsive and Photocleavable Hydrogels from Noncanonical Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures
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posted on 2022-01-14, 00:45 authored by Giacomo Fabrini, Aisling Minard, Ryan A. Brady, Marco Di Antonio, Lorenzo Di MicheleThanks 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.
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termed “ quadsup >+ supdisassembled upon nearstars ”, capableuv irradiationtissue engineeringreversible fashionremoving kpromising candidateprogrammable interactionspot reactionporphyrin photosensitizerphotocleavable hydrogelsparticular importanceloading capabilitieshydrogel aggregatesdrug deliverycombined reversibilitybuilding block