Solid-phase incorporation of an ATRP initiator for polymer-DNA biohybrids

Abstract

The combination of polymers with nucleic acids leads to materials with significantly advanced properties. To obviate the necessity and complexity of conjugating two macromolecules, a polymer initiator is described that can be directly covalently linked to DNA during solid-phase synthesis. Polymer can then be grown from the DNA bound initiator, both in solution after the DNA-initiator is released from the solid support as well as directly on the solid support, simplifying purification. The resulting polymer-DNA hybrids were examined by chromatography and fluorescence methods that attested to the integrity of hybrids and the DNA. The ability to use DNA-based supports expands the range of readily available molecules that can be used with the initiator, as exemplified by direct synthesis of a biotin polymer hybrid on solid-support. This method expands the accessibility and range of advanced polymer biohybrid materials.

Keywords: DNA; atom-transfer radical polymerization; bioconjugates; polymers.