<br/>Nature serves as source of inspiration for the design of polymers and nanomaterials of comparable dimensions, structural precision and functionality as cellular biopolymers. DNA nanotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool to precisely position polymerization initiators or DNA catalysts on perfectly folded DNA origami nanostructures. The combination of the DNA origami technology and polymerizations initiated by visible light has provided access to distinct photo-patterned 3D nanostructures with dimensions far below 100 nm and much smaller than the wavelength of light. In addition, unfolded, denatured proteins have served as macromolecular templates for the preparation of bottlebrush polymers with functionalities at distinct locations along the main chain.<br/>Besides mimicking nature’s strategies to design defined polymeric nanostructures, controlling structure formation inside cells could give entirely new perspectives on how synthetic architectures could affect a living system. We have formed peptide nanostructures inside living cells by multi-step chemical reactions occurring in different cellular compartments and based on natural triggers. The formation of synthetic nanostructures inside the cytosol of cancer cells significantly affects cell viability. Controlling cellular responses such as apoptosis through structure formation opens great opportunities for medical applications.

From bio-inspired polymers to life-like systems

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.