A hybridisation-dependent membrane-insertable amphiphilic DNAElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5ob01761k

We synthesised a novel membrane-insertable amphiphilic DNA. The amphiphilic DNA had a nine-nucleotide hydrophobic region at one end consisting of octyl phosphotriester linkages. The amphiphilic DNA bound to the lipid membrane by inserting the hydrophobic region; this process was facilitated by the presence of the complementary DNA strand. We synthesized a new class of membrane-binding amphiphilic DNA consisting of hydrophilic phosphodiester-linked DNA and hydrophobic octyl phosphotriester-linked DNA. The amphiphilic DNA binds to the lipid membrane by inserting the hydrophobic region, which is facilitated by the presence of the complementary DNA strand.