Nature improves polymer creation

DNA is a polymer that exists in nature and has evolved over billions of years. This type of natural polymer synthesis inspired the research. Image: Zephyris/Wikimedia A new bio-inspired approach to synthesising polymers will offer unprecedented control over the final polymer structure and yield advances in nanomedicine, researchers say.In a study published last week in the prestigious journal Nature Chemistry, researchers from UNSW and the University of Warwick in the UK have outline a new method of polymer synthesis based on a combination of segregation and templating – a pair of natural approaches that have evolved over billions of years to direct complex biological processes. Segregation improves biochemical control in organisms’ cells by organising reactants into defined, well-regulated environments, while the transfer of genetic information is a primary function of templating, states the paper.“The ability to synthesise polymers with such precision and control will enable us to tailor-make polymers for specific needs,...

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