Functional dna building blocks and their hydrogel scaffolds for biomedical applications

Over the past two decades, a variety of hydrogels have been developed; these materials have been identified as one of the most promising for a large range of research and industrial applications. A hydrogel is simply defined as a network of hydrophilic polymers that are likely to be surrounded by aqueous media. In certain environments, gelated polymeric materials interact with water molecules to create maximal boundaries. Interestingly, these polymers absorb water and swell but maintain the gel structure. 200Due to their unique characteristics, including these water-swelling properties, hydrogels have been exploited for use in several fields including basic sciences, medicine, and food processing.^{1, 2, 3} For instance, they have been used as a platform in hygienic products,⁴ agriculture,⁵ sealants,⁶ coal dewatering,⁷ food additives,⁸ drug delivery systems (DDS),⁹ pharmaceuticals,¹⁰ diagnostics,¹¹ and biosensors.¹²