Intelligent DNA-based hydrogels: An outstanding programable and biocompatible material for food applications

Background

Biocompatible smart materials have ushered in revolutionary applications, conferring significant benefits upon humanity. Among these materials, DNA hydrogels stand as a prime representative, which has increasingly piqued the curiosity of researchers within food technology recently. Amidst this rapid advancement, it is imperative to undertake a comprehensive summary and analysis of their applications in this domain, providing a foundational reference for further.

Scope and approach

This review initially delves into the classification based on its crosslinking methods and summarizes their distinctive characteristics. Drawing from these attributes, the article elucidates and analyzes instances of applications in the realm of food in detail. Based on the present development, opportunities and challenges concerning industrial applications are deliberated upon, alongside a compilation of potential cutting-edge technologies that could integrate with DNA hydrogels.

Findings and conclusions

In the field of food safety testing, DNA hydrogels are rapidly expanding into multiple detection domains, encompassing food pathogens, heavy metals, and other small molecular contaminants. Leveraging the diverse functional DNA structures, these detection platforms can effortlessly extend to a wide array of detection targets. The responsive sol-gel transition offers convenient detection signal transduction methods for portable rapid detection. Moreover, due to DNA's exceptional biocompatibility and responsiveness, DNA hydrogels play a pivotal role in intelligent control release within oral delivery systems. However, considerable efforts are still required for industrial applications, particularly in addressing the high costs of DNA synthesis, the relatively lower mechanical strength, and the thorough exploration of storage methodologies.