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Triggering the Selective Reading of Sequence-Defined Oligourethanes: An Example Using Computer Scripts, Representing
Hyun Meen Park1, Hazel A Fargher1, Kevin Song2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|March 24, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed sequence-defined oligourethanes with molecular logic gates for selective data retrieval and chemical computation. This innovation enables chemically addressable molecular data storage and digital computing applications.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Molecular Computing
- Data Storage
Background:
- Sequence-defined polymers (SDPs) show promise for information storage.
- Abiotic SDPs often lack selective data retrieval mechanisms.
- Existing methods struggle to bridge chemical specificity with digital computation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for selective data retrieval in sequence-defined polymers.
- To integrate molecular logic gates with oligourethanes for chemical trigger-based data access.
- To enable sequence-defined oligourethanes to perform executable computer instructions.
Main Methods:
- Integration of orthogonally protected linkers as molecular logic gates with sequence-defined oligourethanes (OUs).
- Utilizing distinct chemical triggers to activate specific OUs and enable selective data retrieval.
- Encoding and executing computer instructions, such as matrix multiplication in Python, within the OU platform.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated selective retrieval of specific OUs using distinct chemical triggers.
- Successfully encoded and executed Python computer instructions using the OU platform.
- Showcased that different chemical inputs can control computational outputs and executed Python code.
Conclusions:
- Established a new paradigm for chemically addressable molecular data storage.
- Extended the capabilities of sequence-defined polymers toward digital computation.
- Bridged chemical specificity with digital computation through a novel molecular platform.
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