Grafting from a Hybrid DNA–Covalent Polymer by the Hybridization Chain Reaction

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b02610
• Publication Date: 2018-07-05T18:07:25Z
• Authors: Willem E. M. Note...; Joeri A. J. Wonde...; Anastasiia Iurchenko; Farhad Chariyev-P...; Dominique Donato; Ilja K. Voets; Doris Heinrich; Roxanne E. Kieltyka
• Keywords: Chain reaction; Graft polymer

Nucleic acid-polymer conjugates are an attractive class of materials endowed with tunable and responsive character. Herein, we exploit the dynamic character nucleic acids in preparation hybrid DNA-covalent polymers extendable grafts by hybridization chain reaction. Addition DNA hairpins to initiator DNA-dextran graft copolymer resulted growth as evidenced various characterization techniques over several length scales. Additionally, aggregation DNA-graft before reaction was observed resulting formation kinetically trapped aggregates hundreds nanometers diameter that could be disrupted a preheating step at 60 °C prior extension room temperature. Materials increasing viscosity were rapidly formed when metastable added grafted concentration components mixture. This study shows potential for hierarchical self-assembly DNA-grafted through opens door biomedical applications where can used readout.