DNA-based drug carriers and dynamic proteoids with tunable properties

The rapid development of DNA nanotechnology has led to the generation of numerous 1D, 2D and 3D DNA nanostructures with different sizes and shapes. Due to their low toxicity and high biocompatibility, they are exploited in the field of nanomedicine. The first part of the present thesis describes the design and synthesis of DNA-based amphiphiles and their application as solubilizers for hydrophobic drugs without influencing their biological activity. Through hybridizing with complementary DNA bearing functional groups, multi functionalization can be achieved controllably and efficiently. We believe that self-assembled DNA nanocarriers hold great promise to be employed as nanocarriers in nanomedicine.
On the other hand, the application of constitutional dynamic chemistry (CDC) in biopolymer science gives rise to the generation of constitutional dynamic analogues of biopolymers, biodynamers, which can be used as novel adaptive biomaterials. The second part of this thesis describes the design and preparation of constitutionally dynamic analogues of proteins (dynamic proteoids) with different nano-structures through the polycondensation of various α-amino acid and dipeptide hydrazides with two types of dialdehydes, namely a nonbiological aromatic dialdehyde and a biological aliphatic dialdehyde. The results provide a basis for the rational design and synthesis of well-ordered architectures and adaptive dynamic proteoids. The resulting biodynamers combine biocompatibility and functionality of the biological components with adaptability stemming from dynamic covalent bonds. They may find use as functional adaptive biomaterials in both biomedical and bio-engineering areas.