Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 15: Computational Biophysics III
BP 15.4: Talk
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 10:15–10:30, BAR/SCHÖ
Multiscale Approaches to Phase Behaviour and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic DNA Networks — •Aaron Gadzekpo1, Xenia Schneider1, and Lennart Hilbert1,2 — 1Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems — 2Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Zoological Institute
DNA can be used as a programmable material whose sequence-level design governs emergent properties. However, approaches that link sequences to the macroscopic behaviours needed in biotechnology remain limited. Here, we integrate coarse-grained simulations, Bayesian optimisation, and graph-based rheology to connect sequence-encoded, molecular-scale parameters to network-level properties. We apply our methods to DNA nanomotifs, which are nanometre-sized, multi-armed molecules assembled from single strands. Network formation among nanomotifs via sticky-end overhangs enables phase separation into liquid-like condensates or the assembly of viscoelastic hydrogels. Our multiscale approaches reveal how nanomotif flexibility, affinity, and concentration govern network formation, phase behaviour, and viscoelasticity. By combining our approaches, we propose inverse design strategies to select sequences that yield targeted emergent properties.
Keywords: DNA nanomaterials; Bayesian optimisation; MD simulation; Rheology