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Block Copolymer Micellization as a Protection Strategy for DNA Origami
Author(s) -
Agarwal Nayan P.,
Matthies Michael,
Gür Fatih N.,
Osada Kensuke,
Schmidt Thorsten L.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201608873
Subject(s) - dna origami , nanomedicine , dna , nanotechnology , dna nanotechnology , ethylene glycol , micelle , template , copolymer , chemistry , materials science , biophysics , nanostructure , nanoparticle , biology , biochemistry , polymer , aqueous solution , organic chemistry
DNA nanotechnology enables the synthesis of nanometer‐sized objects that can be site‐specifically functionalized with a large variety of materials. For these reasons, DNA‐based devices such as DNA origami are being considered for applications in molecular biology and nanomedicine. However, many DNA structures need a higher ionic strength than that of common cell culture buffers or bodily fluids to maintain their integrity and can be degraded quickly by nucleases. To overcome these deficiencies, we coated several different DNA origami structures with a cationic poly(ethylene glycol)–polylysine block copolymer, which electrostatically covered the DNA nanostructures to form DNA origami polyplex micelles (DOPMs). This straightforward, cost‐effective, and robust route to protect DNA‐based structures could therefore enable applications in biology and nanomedicine where unprotected DNA origami would be degraded.