biostudies-literatureBae SWNIBIB NIH HHSNHLBI NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthNIH HHSNational Science Foundatione1800353https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9533696biostudies-literatureUnknown19(2)DNA aptamers are integrated into synthetic hydrogel networks with the aim of creating hydrogels that undergo volume changes when exposed to target molecules. Specifically, single-stranded DNA aptamers in cDNA-bound, extended state are incorporated into hydrogel networks as cross-links, so that the nanoscale conformational change of DNA aptamers upon binding to target molecules will induce macroscopic volume decreases of hydrogels. Hydrogels incorporating adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding aptamers undergo controllable volume decreases of up to 40.3 ± 4.6% when exposed to ATP, depending on the concentration of DNA aptamers incorporated in the hydrogel network, temperature, and target molecule concentration. Importantly, this approach can be generalized to aptamer sequences with distinct bMacromolecular bioscienceDynamic, Bioresponsive Hydrogels via Changes in DNA Aptamer Conformation.PMC9533696R01 HL093282R21EB016381DMR #1306482R01HL093282R21 EB016381Lee JSHarms VMBae SWMurphy WLfalseDynamic, Bioresponsive Hydrogels via Changes in DNA Aptamer Conformation.DNA aptamers are integrated into synthetic hydrogel networks with the aim of creating hydrogels that undergo volume changes when exposed to target molecules. Specifically, single-stranded DNA aptamers in cDNA-bound, extended state are incorporated into hydrogel networks as cross-links, so that the nanoscale conformational change of DNA aptamers upon binding to target molecules will induce macroscopic volume decreases of hydrogels. Hydrogels incorporating adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding aptamers undergo controllable volume decreases of up to 40.3 ± 4.6% when exposed to ATP, depending on the concentration of DNA aptamers incorporated in the hydrogel network, temperature, and target molecule concentration. Importantly, this approach can be generalized to aptamer sequences with distinct b2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Feb2025-04-19T17:36:15.254Z2025-04-19T17:36:15.254ZS-EPMC95336963056586110.1002/mabi.201800353