Assembly and functionalization of supramolecular polymers from DNA-conjugated squaraine oligomers

DNA conjugated oligomers of organic molecules are candidates for applications in the materials and medical sciences, in diagnostics, in optical devices, for delivery or for the design of complex molecular architectures. Herein, we describe the synthesis and properties of DNA-conjugated squaraine (Sq) oligomers. The oligomers self-assemble into supramolecular polymers that are amenable to further functionalization via DNA hybridization, as shown by the attachment of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).