Dynamic covalent polymerization enables translating nucleic acid templates into synthetic precision polymers displaying sensitivity to pH and redox changes. In return, the templated polymers may serve as smart gene delivery vehicles. The overall process amounts to therapeutic nucleic acids fabricating their own delivery vector, thus mimicking the dynamic templated self-assembly of viral capsids and opening new avenues in gene therapies.

Abstract

Nucleic acids are information-rich and readily available biomolecules, which can be used to template the polymerization of synthetic macromolecules. Here, we highlight the control over the size, composition, and sequence one can nowadays obtain by using this methodology. We also highlight how templated processes exploiting dynamic covalent polymerization can, in return, result in therapeutic nucleic acids fabricating their own dynamic delivery vector – a biomimicking concept that can provide original solutions for gene therapies.