Functionalizing Nucleic Acids: Synthesis and Purification Strategies for Bioconjugates as Biomaterials

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Materials Science
• Nanomedicine

Background:

• Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are essential biomolecules for genetic information, catalysis, and protein synthesis.
• Advances in stabilization and understanding molecular roles increase their significance in biomedical applications.
• Functionalization of nucleic acids with various units creates hybrid biomaterials with tunable properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review conjugation strategies for creating nucleic acid conjugates.
• To critically overview purification methods for these conjugates.
• To discuss challenges and broadly applicable strategies for synthesis and purification.

Main Methods:

• Summarization of conjugation strategies for nucleic acids.
• Overview of chromatographic, membrane-based, and electrophoretic purification techniques.
• Analysis of synthesis-purification relationships and common challenges.

Main Results:

• Detailed discussion of conjugation approaches with polymers, peptides, proteins, lipids, and saccharides.
• Highlighting principles, advantages, and limitations of various purification methods.
• Identification of common challenges like solubility, aggregation, and incomplete coupling.

Conclusions:

• Effective synthesis and purification strategies are crucial for developing high-purity nucleic acid conjugates.
• Tailored nucleic acid conjugates are essential for advanced nanomedicine and materials science.
• This review provides a comprehensive guide for researchers in the field.