DNA-based programmable hydrogels for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Abstract

The deoxyribose nucleic acid's (DNA's) journey from being a genetic material to a structural biomaterial has been an exciting one. Of different classes of DNA-based nanodevices, hydrogels have received significant attention worldwide due to their versatility, biocompatibility, resorbable biodegradability, and self-healing properties. Altogether, these properties make DNA hydrogels potential candidates for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Herein we present our review, organize, and display key information on how DNA emerged as a scaffold for biomaterials. We summarize multiple methods for tuning DNA hydrogels based on the programmed association of predefined nucleotide sequences and describe its characterization techniques. We further discuss various stimuli (pH, temperature, light) responsive DNA gels, their stability and immunologic properties in multiple biological systems. We conclude with current trends about outstanding DNA hydrogel applications with upcoming prospects in numerous biomedical applications domains.