Dedicated to the life and legacy of Moritz F. Kircher In the last two decades, DNA has attracted significant attention toward the development of materials at the nanoscale for emerging applications due to the unparalleled versatility and programmability of DNA building blocks. DNA-based artificial nanomaterials can be broadly classified into two categories: DNA nanostructures (DNA-NSs) and DNA-functionalized nanoparticles (DNA-NPs). More importantly, their use in nanotheranostics, a field that combines diagnostics with therapy via drug or gene delivery in an all-in-one platform, has been applied extensively in recent years to provide personalized cancer treatments. Conveniently, the ease of attachment of both imaging and therapeutic moieties to DNA-NSs or DNA-NPs enables high biostability, biocompatibility, and drug loading capabilities, and as a consequence, has markedly catalyzed the rapid growth of this field. This review aims to provide an overview of the recent progress of DNA-NSs and DNA-NPs as theranostic agents, the use of DNA-NSs and DNA-NPs as gene and drug delivery platforms, and a perspective on their clinical translation in the realm of oncology.

In the era of the diabetes pandemic, Injectable hydrogels (HGs) capable of releasing the desired amount of insulin under hyperglycemic conditions will significantly advance smart insulin development. Several smart boronic...

Functionalized vinyl cinnamate monomers were synthesized by the reaction between hydroxyethylacrylate (HEA) and substituted cinnamoyl chlorides possessing electron releasing and withdrawing functional groups like chloro, methoxy, and nitro groups at the para position of the aromatic ring. The structures of these monomers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 1 H-, and 13 C-NMR spectral techniques. The homopolymers of the synthesized monomers were obtained by the free radical solution polymerization in dimethylformamide (DMF) at 80ЊC for 12 h using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as a radical initiator. The sensitivity of these polymers towards light was studied by monitoring the photocrosslinking nature of the polymers by ultraviolet (UV) and FTIR techniques. The effect of the functional groups on the crosslinking efficiency was studied and compared with that of the unsubstituted polymer. The cyclobutane-type addition mechanism involved in the photocrosslinking phenomena was confirmed by the above spectral studies in the functionalized vinyl cinnamate polymers.

Phenylboronic acid (PBA)-containing hydrogels (HGs), capable of glucose-responsive insulin release, have shown promise in diabetes management in preclinical studies. However, sustainable material usage and attaining an optimum insulin release profile pose a significant challenge in such HG design. Herein, we present the development of a straightforward fabrication strategy for glucose-responsive protein-polymer hybrid HGs (PPHGs). We prepare PPHGs by crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with various nature-abundant proteins, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), egg albumin, casein, whey protein, and so forth, using formylphenylboronic acid (FPBA)-based crosslinkers. We showcase PPHGs with diverse bulk rheological properties that are appropriately modulated by the positions of aldehyde, boronic acid, and fluorine substitutions in the FPBA-crosslinker. The orthogonal imine and boronate ester bonds formed by FPBAs are susceptible to the acidic pH environment and glucose concentrations, leading to the glucose-responsive dissolution of the PPHGs. We further demonstrate that by an appropriate selection of FPBAs, glucose-responsive insulin release profiles of the PPHGs can be precisely engineered at the molecular level. Importantly, PPHGs are injectable, incur no cytotoxicity, and, therefore, hold great potential as smart insulin for in vivo applications in the near future.

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On‐demand cargo/drug release from hydrogel under physiological conditions is a significant challenge for advanced therapeutics. Specifically, smart hydrogels capable of the glucose‐responsive release of anti‐diabetic drugs are of current research thurst. Despite the recent developments, there is a need for more glucose‐sensing hydrogel that retain the properties in a wide‐range of pH environments. Herein, a facile and generalized fabrication strategy of multiple stimuli (pH, glucose, and hydrogen peroxide)‐responsive hydrogels is reported. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is crosslinked with three bis‐boronic acid molecules‐ benzene‐1,4‐diboronic acid (1,4‐BDBA), 4,4′‐biphenyldiboronic acid (4,4′‐BPDBA), tetrahydroxydiboron(THDB) in ambient conditions to produce hydrogels with water content > 80% and suitable for (macro)molecular cargo incorporation in the matrix. Extensive analytical studies suggest that hydrogels derived from 1,4‐BDBA and 4,4′‐BPDBA show degradation under the stimuli mentioned earlier, but THDB crosslinked hydrogel does not degrade under pH or glucose environment. This unusual property allows the incorporation of glucose oxidase (GOx) in the hydrogel matrix that imparts the glucose responsiveness for THDB crosslinked hydrogel. Finally, the glucose‐specific release of (macro)molecular cargo/drugs is demonstrated in a glucose oxidase containing PVA/THDB hydrogel in the physiological milieu. The hydrogel developed herein will open up new ways to develop glucose‐specific smart‐matrix for the on‐demand delivery of drugs.

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