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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels
09:06

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

Published on: August 27, 2014

Designing Thermally Stable DNA Hydrogels via Entropically-Driven Acridine Intercalation.

Shaina M Hughes1, Amy M DiVito1, Patrick F Strobel1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, College of Engineering and Physical Science, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|July 1, 2026
PubMed
Summary

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Nature communications·2024

Ionic strength controls entropy-driven supramolecular hydrogels. Increasing salt concentration enhances elasticity and slows relaxation dynamics in DNA-based materials, offering a tunable approach for advanced polymer networks.

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

  • Supramolecular hydrogels rely on reversible bonds, often exothermic, leading to rapid relaxation with heat.
  • Entropy-dominated associations offer temperature-stable mechanical properties, but tuning strategies are limited.
  • Acridine-based DNA-intercalating supramolecular hydrogels (Acr-PEG DISHs) present a model system for investigating environmental influences on reversible cross-linking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how environmental variables, specifically ionic strength, salt concentration, ion identity, and pH, regulate reversible cross-linking dynamics in Acr-PEG DISHs.
  • To understand the role of electrostatic screening and transition state entropy in modulating hydrogel mechanical properties.
  • To identify key environmental factors for tuning the behavior of entropy-driven supramolecular polymer networks.
Keywords:
DNA intercalationDNA‐based hydrogelsDNA‐ion interactionsacridine intercalatorsentropy‐driven assemblysupramolecular hydrogels

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Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning
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Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning

Published on: April 16, 2018

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes
11:42

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes

Published on: November 1, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels
09:06

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

Published on: August 27, 2014

Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning
12:07

Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning

Published on: April 16, 2018

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes
11:42

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes

Published on: November 1, 2012

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of Acr-PEG DISHs using DNA and a bis-intercalating cross-linker at a concentration of 50 mg/mL DNA and 4 mM cross-linker.
  • Systematic evaluation of hydrogel properties across a range of ionic strengths (0.004–0.17 M), salt concentrations (0–0.75 M), different ion identities (monovalent and multivalent), and varied pH.
  • Rheological measurements to determine relaxation dynamics and elasticity, including calculation of transition state entropy using Eyring analysis.

Main Results:

  • Increasing ionic strength significantly enhanced hydrogel elasticity and slowed relaxation dynamics, with relaxation times increasing from ~30–100 s to ~55–625 s.
  • At elevated salt concentrations (~0.5 M), electrostatic screening dominated network behavior, increasing transition state entropy.
  • Monovalent ion identity modulated dissociation kinetics (Na+ < Li+ < K+), while multivalent ions destabilized the network. pH variations showed minimal impact due to ionic strength masking effects.

Conclusions:

  • The ionic environment is a critical factor for tuning the dynamics of entropy-driven supramolecular hydrogels.
  • Systematic control over hydrogel elasticity and relaxation behavior can be achieved by manipulating ionic strength and salt composition.
  • These findings provide a foundation for designing advanced, environmentally responsive supramolecular materials with tailored mechanical properties.