DNA Optoelectronics: Versatile Systems for On-Demand Functional Electrochemical Applications

Herein, we propose innovative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based gels and their applications in diverse optoelectronics. We prepared the optoelectronic DNA-based gels (OpDNA Gel) through molecular complexation, that is, groove binding and ionic interactions of DNA and 1,1′-diheptyl-4,4′-bipyridinium (DHV). This process is feasible even with sequence-nonspecific DNA extracted from nature (e.g., salmon testes), resulting in the expansion of the application scope of DNA-based gels. OpDNA Gel possessed good mechanical characteristics (e.g., high compressibility, thermoplasticity, and outstanding viscoelastic properties) that have not been observed in typical DNA hydrogels. Moreover, the electrochromic (EC) characteristics of DHV were not lost when combined with OpDNA Gel. By taking advantage of the facile moldability, voltage-Tunable EC behavior, and biocompatibility/biodegradability of OpDNA Gel, we successfully demonstrated its applicability in a variety of functional electrochemical systems, including on-demand information coding systems, user-customized EC displays, and microorganism monitoring systems. The OpDNA Gel is a promising platform for the application of DNA-based biomaterials in electrochemical optoelectronics.