Mechanical Properties of DNA Hydrogels: Towards Highly Programmable Biomaterials
Source abstract
Abstract
DNA hydrogels are self-assembled biomaterials that rely on Watson–Crick base pairing to form large-scale programmable three-dimensional networks of nanostructured DNA components. The unique mechanical and biochemical properties of DNA, along with its biocompatibility, make it a suitable material for the assembly of hydrogels with controllable mechanical properties and composition that could be used in several biomedical applications, including the design of novel multifunctional biomaterials. Numerous studies that have recently emerged, demonstrate the assembly of functional DNA hydrogels that are responsive to stimuli such as pH, light, temperature, biomolecules, and programmable strand-displacement reaction cascades. Recent studies have investigated the role of different factors such as linker flexibility, functionality, and chemical crosslinking on the macroscale mechanical properties of DNA hydrogels. In this review, we present the existing data and methods regarding the mechanical design of pure DNA hydrogels and hybrid DNA hydrogels, and their use as hydrogels for cell culture. The aim of this review is to facilitate further study and development of DNA hydrogels towards utilizing their full potential as multifeatured and highly programmable biomaterials with controlled mechanical properties.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques · RNA Interference and Gene Delivery · DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Bioengineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
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