Switchable bifunctional stimuli-triggered poly-N-isopropylacrylamide/DNA hydrogels

Weiwei Guo, Chun Hua Lu, Xiu Juan Qi, Ron Orbach, Michael Fadeev, Huang Hao Yang, Itamar Willner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

166 Scopus citations

Abstract

DNA-tethered poly-N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer chains, pNIPAM, that include nucleic acid tethers have been synthesized. They are capable of inducing pH-stimulated crosslinking of the chains by i-motif structures or to be bridged by Ag+ ions to form duplexes. The solutions of pNIPAM chains undergo crosslinking at pH 5.2 or in the presence of Ag+ ions to form hydrogels. The hydrogels reveal switchable hydrogel-to-solution transitions by the reversible crosslinking of the chains at pH 5.2 and the separation of the crosslinking units at pH 7.5, or by the Ag+ ion-stimulated crosslinking of the chains and the reverse dissolution of the hydrogel by the cysteamine-induced elimination of the Ag+ ions. The DNA-crosslinked hydrogels are thermosensitive and undergo reversible temperature-controlled hydrogel-to-solid transitions. The solid pNIPAM matrices are protected against the OH- or cysteamine-stimulated dissociation to the respective polymer solutions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10134-10138
Number of pages5
JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
Volume53
Issue number38
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Sep 2014
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Keywords

  • N-isopropylacrylamide
  • nucleic acids
  • phase transitions
  • reversible hydrogels
  • thermosensitive polymers

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Switchable bifunctional stimuli-triggered poly-N-isopropylacrylamide/DNA hydrogels'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this