DNA Nanotechnology makes synthetic matter talk to cells

Datum

30.11.2023

Zeit

11:00 - 12:00

Sprecher

Elisha Krieg

Zugehörigkeit

Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research, Dresden, Germany

Serie

MPI-CBG Thursday Seminar

Sprache

en

Hauptthema

Biologie

Host

Claudia Gerri

Beschreibung

Synthetic chemistry has enabled the creation of materials with remarkable properties, yet these materials often lack the dynamic nature exhibited by biological systems. In contrast, living matter is self-organizing and responsive, which is critical for many processes, including cell differentiation, sensing, transport, actuation, structural support, and—more generally—adaptation to internal and external stimuli. Intriguingly, the utilization of DNA nanotechnology principles in synthetic materials has opened avenues for achieving a spectrum of features and a degree of control reminiscent of biological systems. These materials have begun to emulate key cellular mechanisms, including the modulation of viscoelastic properties in the extracellular matrix, shape changes of the cytoskeleton, control over molecular transport, and localization of processes in biomolecular condensates. In this talk, I will describe our progress in developing such programmable materials and underscore their significance in two specific application domains. Firstly, I will highlight a new precision matrix for the culture of cells and organoids. By integrating customizable mechanics and predictable responsive features, these matrices help guide and interrogate cellular development and morphogenesis. Secondly, I will describe our work on intelligent polymers designed for streamlining nucleic acid sequencing and pathogen detection.

Letztmalig verändert: 01.12.2023, 07:37:45