The biological importance of nucleic acids for the storage, expression and regulation of genetic information is now well understood. By taming the chemical synthesis of these biomolecules, chemists have been able to engineer new architectures based on the ability of DNA and RNA to fold into secondary or even more complex tertiary structures with applications in medicinal chemistry, diagnostic or material sciences.

In the laboratory we are currently exploiting the fascinating structures of DNA and RNA to 1) design stimuli-responsive systems able to trigger the DNA- and RNA-templated assembly of short oligomers and modulate enzymatic activities, 2) use their chiral architectures as a new code for the development of hybrid catalysts for asymmetric transformations in water and 3) develop bio-inspired oligomers able to self-assemble and form nanotubes and hydrogels in pure water.

The presentation will cover our recent studies as well as the current challenges and promising perspectives in the field of artificial DNA-based systems.