DNA-guided self-organized active materials

ended

Programming the autonomous and multiscale structuring of shapeless synthetic soft matter is unknown and conceptually challenging. In stark contrast, a living embryo is highly ordered at all levels – from cells to the entire organism. The ordering is a multistep process, starting from the patterning of biomolecules (morphogens) which later instruct autonomous shape transformations (morphogenesis). Inspired by these natural physicochemical processes, we aim at the preparation of a first-ever synthetic biocompatible material which can be self-organized in a programmable and autonomous manner. The programming will be achieved by an out-of-equilibrium DNA-based chemical network which predictably generates single-stranded DNA morphogens. Combined with diffusion, the concentrations of the morphogen can be patterned with a unique spatiotemporal precision, including travelling waves and stable fronts, which were pioneered by the host group. The autonomy of morphological structuring will be accomplished by linking the mechanical activity of active gels, composed of DNA-kinesins and microtubules, to the presence of the DNA morphogen. Latter will act as a cross-linker creating the clusters of kinesins and thus guiding the self-organization of the soft material by the collective action of nanoscale kinesin motor proteins which exert force on microtubules. Apart from the preparation of a first biocompatible man-made morphogenetic material, we will learn how the self-organization of active gels is dependent on morphogens’ patterns. This knowledge is indispensable for the advanced programming of the precise macroscale shapes at the molecular level of chemical networks, which are diverse and modular. With further developments, our methodology could lead to so far elusive self-fabricated, force-exerting synthetic soft matter with the potential of integration in soft robotics and biological environments.