Synthesis and self-assembly of DNA-chromophore hybrid amphiphiles

DNA based spherical nanostructures are one of the promising nanostructures for several biomedical and biotechnological applications due to their excellent biocompatibility and DNA-directed surface addressability. Herein, we report the synthesis and amphiphilicity-driven self-assembly of two classes of DNA (hydrophilic)-chromophore (hydrophobic) hybrid amphiphiles into spherical nanostructures. A solid-phase "click" chemistry based modular approach is demonstrated for the synthesis of DNA-chromophore amphiphiles. Various spectroscopic and microscopic analyses reveal the self-assembly of the amphiphiles into vesicular and micellar assemblies with the corona made of hydrophilic DNA and the hydrophobic chromophoric unit as the core of the spherical nanostructures. DNA based amphiphiles are synthesized through a modular "click" chemistry approach, and the DNA-chromophore hybrid amphiphiles undergo amphiphilicity-driven self-assembly into vesicular or micellar nanostructures having a DNA shell and functional core.