Self-replicating micro-hydrogel via programmable DNA assembly

Abstract

Self-replication has attracted considerable interest for artificial implementation due to its high uniformity, scalability, and versatility in generating diverse structures. However, previous studies have focused on the nanoscale, and most systems replicate only a predefined template geometry, requiring redesign of the mechanism to replicate different shapes. To address these limitations, we introduce a microscale self-replication system that integrates DNA-based programmable self-assembly with polymer-based self-healing. By exploiting the sequence specificity of DNA hybridization, assembly between templates and monomers occurred exclusively when complementary DNA pairs were present in hydrogels. The assembly was independent of template geometry, confirming that DNA based programmable assembly can be uniformly applied to various template shapes. To enable elongation between assembled monomers, hydrogels were fabricated using methacrylated poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAGMA). Upon borax treatment, contacting monomer hydrogels formed new cross-linking and remained bound even under external mechanical agitation. This self-healing property allowed the assembled monomers to undergo elongation, forming continuous hydrogel structures. Overall, this work demonstrates a versatile microscale self-replication system that combines sequence-specific DNA hybridization with polymer self-healing. The proposed platform operates independently of template geometry and enables programmable and orthogonal self-replication, providing a promising strategy for the autonomous fabrication of complex soft matter structures.