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Design of Abiological Digital Poly(phosphodiester)s
Laurence Charles1, Jean-François Lutz2
1Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Institute for Radical Chemistry, UMR 7273, 23 Av Escadrille Nomandie-Niemen, 13397 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
Accounts of Chemical Research
|March 17, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed synthetic poly(phosphodiester)s for digital data storage, offering tunable properties and high capacity beyond DNA limitations. These polymers can be efficiently sequenced and edited, enabling new possibilities for coded matter.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Data Storage
Background:
- Biological systems utilize sequence-controlled nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) for genetic information storage and transfer.
- DNA has been explored as a digital storage medium due to its high density and established synthesis/sequencing technologies.
- DNA's inherent biological constraints limit its adaptability for technological data storage needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore synthetic polymers, specifically sequence-defined poly(phosphodiester)s, as an alternative to DNA for digital data storage.
- To engineer poly(phosphodiester)s with tunable properties for optimized storage density, capacity, erasability, and readability.
- To demonstrate the synthesis, sequencing, and potential applications of these abiological digital polymers.
Main Methods:
- Stepwise phosphoramidite chemistry was employed for the synthesis of sequence-defined poly(phosphodiester)s using non-natural building blocks.
- Nanopore sequencing and mass spectrometry were utilized for deciphering the digital information encoded within the polymer sequences.
- Development of decoding software for automated decryption of sequencing data.
- Engineering polymer structures to adjust storage density, capacity, erasability, and readability.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized high-capacity poly(phosphodiester) chains encoding hundreds of bits per chain.
- Demonstrated efficient sequencing of these synthetic polymers using routine mass spectrometry.
- Achieved automatic decryption of sequencing data with specialized software.
- Showcased the ability to edit the coded matter using physical triggers like light and organize it via self-assembly.
Conclusions:
- Sequence-defined poly(phosphodiester)s represent a promising class of abiological digital polymers for data storage.
- These synthetic polymers offer significant advantages over DNA, including easily tunable molecular structures and properties.
- The developed methods enable high-density data storage, efficient retrieval, and manipulation of coded matter, opening new avenues in materials science and information technology.
