DNA-encoded REconfigurable and Active Matter

Synthetic materials exist in a broad variety of sizes, shapes and compositions leading to an impressive breadth of useful functions but tend to be case-specific. Living matter, in contrast, has the remarkable capability to sense, evolve, transform and adapt.

Here, we propose to develop new DNA-encoded dynamic principles and implement them as molecular codes to program similar life-like characteristics in a variety of synthetic soft materials, ranging from evolutive DNA nanomachines to genetically encoded active interfaces.

Various DNA nanostructures (DNA origamis, single-stranded tiles, DNA nanogrids) will be produced by a new concept of isothermal and reconfigurable DNA self-assembly, leading to user-defined self-assembled structures capable to adapt and morphologically transform, autonomously or in response to a stimulus.

Coupling proteins to these reconfigurable nanoscaffolds will allow us to reconstitute dynamic synthetic metabolic pathways, design programmable catalytic switch or develop a new principle of nanostructure discovery by evolution.

Beside encoding structural dynamics, we will also incorporate gene-containing DNA in interface-rich materials (films, drops, emulsions) to program, at a genetic level for the first time, the active behaviour and dynamic functionality of these systems.

In situ cell-free expression of interfacially active proteins, such as BslA and hydrophobins, will allow us to control the interfacial properties (surface tension, visco-elasticity), either uniformly or with controlled spatio-temporal patterns.

This will result in original genetically encoded active behaviours such as genetic Marangoni effects, propulsion, genophoresis or autonomous genetic sorting.

Additional functionality will be brought by co-expressing useful proteins (enzymes, antibodies) at these interfaces, resulting in highly dynamic, reconfigurable, versatile and multifunctional soft materials.