We report herein discrete triplex hybridization of DNA and RNA with polyacrylates. Length-monodisperse triazine-derivatized polymers were prepared on gram-scale by reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization. Despite stereoregio backbone heterogeneity, the triazine polymers bind T/U-rich DNA or RNA with nanomolar affinity upon mixing in a 1:1 ratio, as judged by thermal melts, circular dichroism, gel-shift assays, and fluorescence quenching. We call these polyacrylates “bifacial polymer nucleic acids” (bPoNAs). Nucleic acid hybridization with bPoNA enables DNA loading onto polymer nanoparticles, siRNA silencing delivery, and can further serve as an allosteric trigger of RNA aptamer function. Thus, bPoNAs can serve as tools for both non-covalent bioconjugation and structure–function nucleation. It is anticipated that bPoNAs will have utility in both bio- and nanotechnology.
An aqueous-soluble melamine polymer was condensed into nanoparticles by specific heterocycle binding interactions with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or cyanuric acid (CA). Small-molecule/polymer recognition of this type exhibits a clear exothermic binding signature and is sufficiently robust to induce macromolecular assembly in water. Polymer amphiphiles with melamine sites in the hydrophobic block could be stably loaded with up to 17% weight 5-FU. Macromolecular assembly with 5-FU or CA requires specific hydrogen-bonding recognition between 5-FU/CA and polymer-displayed melamine; assembly may be blocked by melamine methylation. Melamine and 5-fluorouracil complexes were analyzed by X-ray crystal structure determination, which revealed the expected 5-FU/melamine hydrogen-bonding interactions.
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