Lipid and Nucleic Acid Chemistries: Combining the Best of Both Worlds to Construct Advanced Biomaterials

Abstract

Hybrid synthetic amphiphilic biomolecules are emerging as promising supramolecular materials for biomedical and technological applications. Herein, recent progress in the field of nucleic acid based lipids is highlighted with an emphasis on their molecular design, synthesis, supramolecular properties, physicochemical behaviors, and applications in the field of health science and technology. In the first section, the design and the study of nucleolipids are in focus and then the glyconucleolipid family is discussed. In the last section, recent contributions of responsive materials involving nucleolipids and their use as smart drug delivery systems are discussed. The supramolecular materials generated by nucleic acid based lipids open new challenges for biomedical applications, including the fields of medicinal chemistry, biosensors, biomaterials for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and the decontamination of nanoparticles.

Keywords: amphiphiles; hydrogels; lipids; nucleosides; supramolecular assemblies.