Abstract Nucleic acids are gaining significant attention as versatile building blocks for the next generation of soft materials. Due to advances in chemical synthesis and biotechnological production, DNA becomes more widely available enabling its usage bulk material various applications. This has prompted researchers actively explore unique features offered by DNA‐containing materials like hydrogels. In this review article, recent developments field hydrogels that feature a component either...

Nonviral gene delivery with the help of polycations has raised considerable interest in scientific community over past decades. Herein, we present a systematic study on influence molecular weight and architecture poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) transfection efficiency cytotoxicity CHO-K1 cells. A library well-defined homopolymers linear star-shaped topology (3- 5-arm stars) was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The weights ranged from 16 to 158...

Skeletal muscle provides inspiration on how to achieve reversible, macroscopic, anisotropic motion in soft materials. Here we report the bottom-up design of macroscopic tubes that exhibit actuation driven by a thermal stimulus. The tube is built from hydrogel which extremely long supramolecular nanofibers are aligned using weak shear forces, followed radial growth thermoresponsive polymers their surfaces. hierarchically ordered exhibits reversible with changes temperature, much greater...

Complex coacervated-based assemblies form when two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes combine to phase separate into a supramolecular architecture. These architectures range from complex coacervate droplets, spherical and worm-like micelles, vesicles. are widely applied, for example, in the food industry, as underwater or medical adhesives, but they can also serve great model biological assemblies. Indeed, biology relies on coacervation so-called membraneless organelles, dynamic transient...

Abstract Liquid crystalline hydrogels are an attractive class of soft materials to direct charge transport, mechanical actuation, and cell migration. When such systems contain supramolecular polymers, it is possible in principle easily shear align nanoscale structures create bulk anisotropic properties. However, reproducibly fabricating patterning aligned domains 3D remains a challenge using conventional fabrication techniques. Here, method reported for printing ionically crosslinked liquid...

We report the unique layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly behavior of pH-sensitive star-shaped polyelectrolytes with both linear and exponential growth modes controlled by star architecture conditions. Cationic poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] anionic poly(acrylic acid) stars were synthesized via "core-first" atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) based on multifunctional initiators, in addition to their analogues. demonstrated LbL as a function deposition pH (ranging from 5 7),...

We describe the preparation of well-defined multicompartment micelles from polybutadiene-block-poly(1-methyl-2-vinyl pyridinium methyl sulfate)-block-poly(methacrylic acid) (BVqMAA) triblock terpolymers and their use as advanced drug delivery systems for photodynamic therapy (PDT). A porphyrazine derivative was incorporated into hydrophobic core during self-assembly served a model fluorescent probe at same time. The initial micellar corona is formed by negatively charged PMAA could be...

Abstract The synthesis of hybrid hydrogels by pH‐controlled structural transition with exceptional rheological properties as cellular matrix is reported. “Depsi” peptide sequences are grafted onto a polypeptide backbone that undergo pH‐induced intramolecular O–N–acyl migration at physiological conditions affording nanofibers (PNFs) supramolecular gelators. polypeptide–PNF mechanically remarkably robust. They reveal exciting thixotropic behavior immediate in situ recovery after exposure to...

Gene therapy via retroviral vectors holds great promise for treating a variety of serious diseases. It requires the use additives to boost infectivity. Amyloid-like peptide nanofibers (PNFs) were shown efficiently enhance gene transfer. However, underlying mode action these peptides remains largely unknown. Data-mining is an efficient method systematically study structure-function relationship and unveil patterns in database. This data-mining elucidates multi-scale...

In contrast to biological cell membranes, it is still a major challenge for synthetic membranes efficiently separate ions and small molecules due their similar sizes in the sub-nanometer range. Inspired by ion channels with unique channel wall chemistry that facilitates sieving ion-channel interactions, first free-standing, ultrathin (10-17 nm) nanomembranes composed entirely of polydopamine (PDA) are reported here as molecular sieves. These obtained via an easily scalable...

Delivery of polynucleotides such as plasmid DNA (pDNA) and siRNA to nondividing primary cells by nonviral vectors presents a considerable challenge. In this contribution, we introduce novel type PDMAEMA-based star-shaped nanoparticles that (i) are efficient transfection agents in clinically relevant difficult-to-transfect human (Jurkat T cells, lymphocytes) (ii) can efficiently deliver lymphocytes resulting more than 40% silencing the targeted gene. Transfection efficiencies achieved new...

A nondestructive way to achieve remote, reversible, light-controlled tunable permeability of ultrathin shell microcapsules is demonstrated in this study. Microcapsules based on poly{[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium iodide} (PMETAI) star polyelectrolyte and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) were prepared by a layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. We stable with controlled the arm number polymer having significant effect assembly structure: PMETAI 18 arms shows more uniform compact...

The demand for ever more complex nanostructures in materials and soft matter nanoscience also requires sophisticated characterization tools reliable visualization interpretation of internal morphological features. Here, we address both aspects present synthetic concepts the compartmentalization nanoparticle peripheries as well their situ tomographic characterization. We first form negatively charged spherical multicompartment micelles from ampholytic triblock terpolymers aqueous media,...

Bioinspired, stimuli-responsive, polymer-functionalized mesoporous films are promising platforms for precisely regulating nanopore transport toward applications in water management, iontronics, catalysis, sensing, drug delivery, or energy conversion. Nanopore technologies still require new, facile, and effective functionalization with multi- stimuli-responsive polymers to reach these complicated application targets. In recent years, zwitterionic multifunctional polydopamine (PDA) deposited...

The deposition of conformal films from redox-active biological molecules, such as catechols, catecholamines, and other polyphenols, has demonstrated great versatility in terms the substrate used. Precursors allomelanins, mainly found plants fungi, have been largely overlooked precursors for design robust coatings. Moreover, their potential application electrodeposition on conductive substrates not yet investigated. Here, by cyclic voltammetry chronoamperometry 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene...

ABSTRACT Antibody mimetic peptides have evolved as versatile tools for biomedical applications, based on their ability to interfere with protein–protein interactions. We had previously designed a functional mimic of the broadly neutralizing HIV‐1 antibody b12 that recognizes CD4 binding site envelope glycoprotein gp120. The molecular details interaction linear variant this peptide (H1H3s) gp120 now been characterized through cross‐linking mass spectrometry, confirming proposed involvement in...

Star polyelectrolytes (poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA)) with dual (temperature and pH) responsive properties were utilized to fabricate multiresponsive microcapsules via layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The LbL are very robust uniform, higher stability different internal structure compared conventional based on linear polyelectrolytes. Ionic strength in the polyelectrolyte solution during microcapsule assembly process has a significant influence thickness permeability of...

Poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) star polyelectrolytes with dual thermo- and pH-responsive properties have been studied by in situ small-angle neutron scattering at different temperatures pH conditions order to reveal their conformational changes semidilute solution. At values close the pKa, all PDMAEMA stars here are partially charged show a core–shell quasi-micellar morphology caused microphase separation collapsed core region high monomer density hydrated loosely packed...

The actuation of micro- and nanostructures controlled by external stimuli remains one the exciting challenges in nanotechnology due to wealth fundamental questions potential applications energy harvesting, robotics, sensing, biomedicine, tunable metamaterials. Photoactuation utilizes conversion light into motion through reversible chemical physical processes enables remote spatiotemporal control actuation. Here, we report a fast light-to-motion few-nanometer thick bare polydopamine (PDA)...

The combination of RAFT chemistry and hetero-Diels−Alder (HDA) cycloaddition provides a convenient conjugation tool for the construction macromolecular architectures. actual linkage, which is formed in HDA approach, consists 3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran ring. Herein, careful study into stability polymer linked by rings under different thermal pH conditions performed. As polymeric model system, functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) obtained after between diene PEG 1-phenylethyl...

Abstract Hybrid nanomaterials have shown great potential in regenerative medicine due to the unique opportunities customize materials properties for effectively controlling cellular growth. The peptide nanofiber‐mediated auto‐oxidative polymerization of dopamine, resulting stable aqueous dispersions polydopamine‐coated hybrid nanofibers, is demonstrated. catechol residues polydopamine coating on nanofibers are accessible and provide a platform introducing functionalities pH‐responsive...

Genetic modification (“transfection”) of mammalian cells using non-viral, synthetic agents such as polycations, is still a challenge. Polyplex formation between the DNA and polycation decisive step in experiments. Star-shaped polycations have been proposed superior transfection agents, yet never before compared side-by-side, e.g., view structural effects. Herein four star-shaped polycationic structures, all based on (2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) building blocks, were...