Modular, Well-Behaved Reversible Polymers from DNA-Based Monomers

Fundamental studies of reversible polymerizations can be achieved with intrinsically modular oligonucleotide-based monomers (OMs) comprised of oligonucleotide sequences that are covalently linked directly or through a synthetic spacer. The thermodynamics and kinetics of association are determined by the variable OM base system. The number of reversible interactions and the conformational flexibility along the polymer backbone are dependent on the spacer.