DNA Nanostructures as Smart Drug-Delivery Vehicles and Molecular Devices

Peer reviewe

A modular DNA origami-based enzyme cascade nanoreactor

Peer reviewe

DNA origami structures as calibration standards for nanometrology

Peer reviewe

Custom-shaped metal nanostructures based on DNA origami silhouettes

Peer reviewe

Nanometrology and super-resolution imaging with DNA

Peer reviewe

Properties and chemical modifications of lignin : Towards lignin-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications

Biorenewable polymers have emerged as an attractive alternative to conventional metallic and organic materials for a variety of different applications. This is mainly because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability and low cost of production. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most promising renewable carbon-containing source on Earth. Depending on the origin and species of the biomass, lignin consists of 20-35% of the lignocellulosic biomass. After it has been extracted, lignin can be modified through diverse chemical reactions. There are different categories of chemical modifications, such as lignin depolymerization or fragmentation, modification by synthesizing new chemically active sites, chemical modification of the hydroxyl groups, and the production of lignin graft copolymers. Lignin can be used for different industrial and biomedical applications, including biofuels, chemicals and polymers, and the development of nanomaterials for drug delivery but these uses depend on the source, chemical modifications and physicochemical properties. We provide an overview on the composition and properties, extraction methods and chemical modifications of lignin in this review. Furthermore, we describe different preparation methods for lignin-based nanomaterials with antioxidant UV-absorbing and antimicrobial properties that can be used as reinforcing agents in nanocomposites, in drug delivery and gene delivery vehicles for biomedical applications. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

DNA-Based Enzyme Reactors and Systems

Peer reviewe

Challenges in synthesis and analysis of asymmetrically grafted cellulose nanocrystals via atom transfer radical polymerization

When cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are isolated from cellulose microfibrils, the parallel arrangement of the cellulose chains in the crystalline domains is retained so that all reducing end-groups (REGs) point to one crystallite end. This permits the selective chemical modification of one end of the CNCs. In this study, two reaction pathways are compared to selectively attach atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators to the REGs of CNCs, using reductive amination. This modification further enabled the site-specific grafting of the anionic polyelectrolyte poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) from the CNCs. Different analytical methods, including colorimetry and solution-state NMR analysis, were combined to confirm the REG-modification with ATRP-initiators and PSS. The achieved grafting yield was low due to either a limited conversion of the CNC REGs or side reactions on the polymerization initiator during the reductive amination. The end-tethered CNCs were easy to redisperse in water after freeze-drying, and the shear birefringence of colloidal suspensions is maintained after this process.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Cellular delivery of enzyme-loaded DNA origami

In this communication, we show that active enzymes can be delivered into HEK293 cells in vitro when they are attached to tubular DNA origami nanostructures. We use bioluminescent enzymes as a cargo and monitor their activity from a cell lysate. The results show that the enzymes stay intact and retain their activity in the transfection process. The method is highly modular, which makes it a compelling candidate for a great variety of delivery applications.Peer reviewe

Superstructure-Dependent Loading of DNA Origami Nanostructures with a Groove-Binding Drug

Peer reviewe