Programmable polymer materials empowered by DNA nanote
Date:
Lecture / Seminar
Time: 11:00-12:00
Location: Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture Hall
Lecturer: Dr. Elisha Krieg
Organizer: Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science
Abstract: Synthetic chemistry has enabled the creation of materials with remarkable proper ... Read more Synthetic chemistry has enabled the creation of materials with remarkable properties, yet they often lack thedynamic nature exhibited by biological systems. In contrast, living matter is self-organizing and responsive, whichis critical for processes such as cell differentiation, sensing, transport, actuation, structural support, and—morebroadly—adaptation to internal and external stimuli. Intriguingly, the application of DNA nanotechnology tosynthetic materials has opened avenues for achieving a range of features and a level of control reminiscent ofbiological systems. These materials have begun to emulate key cellular mechanisms, including the modulation ofviscoelastic properties in the extracellular matrix, cytoskeletal shape changes, control of molecular transport, andthe localization of processes in biomolecular condensates. In this talk, I will describe our progress in developingsuch programmable materials and highlight two recent examples. First, I will introduce a novel precision matrix forculturing cells and organoids. By integrating customizable mechanics with predictable, responsive features, thismatrix both guides and probes cellular development. Second, I will present an exotic form of soft matter that isself-assembled from more than 16,000 unique molecular components. This material demonstrates that highcompositional complexity can yield unique molecular architectures with emergent properties distinct from thoseof conventional polymers.References:* Speed et al. J. Polym. Sci. 2023, 61, 1713.* Peng et al., Nature Nanotech. 2023, 18, 1463.* Krieg & Shih, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 714.* Gupta & Krieg, Nucl. Acids Res. 2024, 52, e80.* Prakash et al., Nature Nanotech. 2021, 16, 2021.* Speed et al., BioRxiv 2024. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.12.603212Close abstract
