Towards a Bayesian Interpretation of DNA Self-assembly in Hydrogels

While widely known as the molecule of life, DNA is also an amazing building block at the nanoscale, since it allows the design and programming of the structure and dynamics of functional nanomaterials. A class of such materials are DNA hydrogels, which exploit elastic or viscous behaviour that is finely regulated by temperature. These functional materials are promising candidates for medical applications, and specifically controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering and biosensing.
In my research I am using computational tools to study the self-assembly of branched-shaped DNA building blocks that form a hydrogel. By using molecular dynamics I am simulating the assembling process, and calculate the equilibrium elastic and viscous moduli of DNA hydrogels. Moreover, I am working towards the design of a model that will employ Bayesian inference in order to associate the hydrogel properties with the different configurations of the DNA building blocks. In my talk I will outline the significance of a model that will describe DNA hydrogels, and how it can lead to the design of novel DNA-based materials.