Functional DNA assembly
material

DNA as a programmable polymer has been used to fabricate
delicate structures and assemble irregular hydrogel. For our group, we have used
a Y shaped DNA structure with half-i-motif ends to construct a pH responsible
gel/sol transform system with peerless efficiency.
Another Y shaped motif combined with a dsDNA with
complemented stick ends and restriction endonuclease sites brought out a novel
DNA gel responded to both temperature and enzyme. Moreover, several well
designed Y shape motifs can also assemble into dendrite super molecules step by
step.
These gel or dendrite DNA systems have the potential to be
used as containers both in macro and in nano scales.