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Synthesis of an Intein-mediated Artificial Protein Hydrogel
Published on: January 27, 2014
DNA Framework Nucleator-Enabled Intelligent Hydrogel Interfaces on Living Cells
Yuxuan Wu1, Yuanhao Wang1, Jingrui Yang1
1Department of Liver Surgery, School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 30, 2026
Summary
Researchers engineered intelligent hydrogel interfaces on cell surfaces using DNA framework nucleators for precise cellular control. This novel approach enhances stimuli-responsive functions and enables complex logic gate operations for advanced cell-based applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Synthetic Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Precise cellular manipulation requires engineering intelligent interfaces on living cells.
- Current methods for creating cellular interfaces often lack fidelity and dynamic regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a DNA framework nucleator (DFN)-guided strategy for controlled assembly of high-fidelity stimuli-responsive intelligent hydrogel interfaces (HIs) on living cell surfaces.
- To investigate the performance of DFN-guided HIs in terms of response efficiency and logic gate function.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a rigid tetrahedral DNA framework as the structural core for DFNs, acting as nucleation sites on the cell membrane.
- Directed localized branched hybridization chain reaction for single-cell HI formation.
- Integrated dual-locked, crosstalk-free logic gate functions for specific molecular triggers (ATP and microRNA-122).
Main Results:
- Achieved a response efficiency of ~90.7% for ATP-responsive HIs, a ~2.9-fold enhancement over flexible DNA nucleators.
- Demonstrated a high-fidelity AND-gate function with ~98.5% response efficiency and <4.0% background crosstalk for dual triggers (ATP and microRNA-122), outperforming controls by 4.2-fold.
- Showcased the importance of ordered nucleation for high-fidelity signal processing at cellular interfaces.
Conclusions:
- DFN-guided strategy enables the controlled assembly of high-fidelity, stimuli-responsive intelligent hydrogel interfaces on living cells.
- The platform supports advanced logic gate functions, moving beyond static encapsulation to dynamic, regulated cellular systems.
- Established a versatile platform for next-generation programmable cell-based applications requiring precise cellular control and signal processing.
