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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

Published on: August 27, 2014

pH-stimulated DNA hydrogels exhibiting shape-memory properties.

Weiwei Guo¹, Chun-Hua Lu, Ron Orbach

¹The Institute of Chemistry, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

|November 8, 2014

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DNA hydrogels with shape-memory properties were created using nucleic acid cross-linkers. These DNA hydrogels can dissolve and reform, retaining their shape through a memory code, showcasing responsive material capabilities.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Biotechnology
Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

Hydrogels are versatile materials with applications in various fields.
Developing responsive hydrogels that can change properties based on external stimuli is an active area of research.
Nucleic acid structures offer unique programmable and responsive functionalities.

Purpose of the Study:

To engineer DNA hydrogels with shape-memory properties.
To investigate the role of i-motif and duplex DNA units in hydrogel formation and dissolution.
To demonstrate the ability to regenerate hydrogel shape using a memory code.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of polyacrylamide chains functionalized with nucleic acids.
Cooperative cross-linking of polymer chains using i-motif and DNA duplex units.

Keywords:

acrylamide gel i-motif nucleic acid switch

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Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

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pH-dependent modulation of hydrogel properties (solubility and regeneration).

Main Results:

Formation of DNA hydrogels exhibiting shape-memory effects at pH 5.0.
Dissolution of hydrogels into a quasi-liquid phase at pH 8.0 due to i-motif separation.
Regeneration of the original hydrogel shape upon returning to pH 5.0, facilitated by residual duplex units acting as a memory code.

Conclusions:

Nucleic acid-cross-linked hydrogels can be designed to exhibit tunable shape-memory behavior.
The pH-responsive nature of i-motif structures enables reversible hydrogel formation and dissolution.
The study demonstrates a novel approach for creating programmable and self-healing materials using DNA nanotechnology.