DNA-responsive hydrogels that can shrink or swell

Molecule-responsive hydrogels are reputed to be smart materials because of their unique properties. We recently reported that hydrogels containing directly grafted single-stranded (ss) DNA or ssDNA-polyacrylamide conjugate in a semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) manner that "only shrunk" by the addition of ssDNA samples. To date, however, no DNA-responsive hydrogels have been reported capable of "swelling" in response to specific DNAs. Smart materials capable of both shrinking and swelling in response to specific DNAs would be very useful in biochemical and biomedical applications. Here, we show a novel "shrinking or swelling" DNA-responsive mechanism. Novel hybrid hydrogels containing rationally designed ssDNA as the cross-linker were capable of shrinking or swelling in response to ssDNA samples and recognizing a single base difference in the samples. On the basis of the results presented in this paper, it is envisioned that these novel hybrid hydrogels could function and have potential in applications such as DNA-sensing devices and DNA-triggered actuators.