Putting DNA to Work as Generic Polymeric Materials

Abstract

DNA is a true polymer that stores the genetic information for an organism. With its amazing biological and polymeric characters, DNA has been regarded as a universal building block for the construction of diverse materials for real-world applications. Through various approaches including ligation, polymerization, chemical crosslinking, and physical cross-linking, both pure and hybrid DNA gels have been developed as generic materials. This minireview discusses the recent advances in the construction strategies of DNA-based networks without considering any of DNA’s genetic properties. In addition, this minireview highlights the biomedical and non-biomedical applications of DNA as generic materials. With the superb molecular recognition, self-assembly, and responsiveness, a mushrooming number of DNA materials with various properties would be developed for general utilization.