Molecular recognition plays an important role in biological systems. Exploiting the complementary base-pairing observed between nucleotides (in DNA and RNA) to build discrete multicomponent composite micelles would be of high value. Herein, we describe the synthesis of short chain block copolymers functionalized with the nucleobase adenine (A) or thymine (T). The copolymers self-assemble in a phosphate buffered aqueous solution and base-pairing is observed between the nucleobase end-functionalized block copolymer and the free nucleobase despite the highly competitive aqueous environment. This phenomenon is only observed when the nucleobase is attached to the hydrophilic end of the copolymer. Exposure to elevated temperatures destroys the hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) between the nucleobase end-functionalized block copolymer and the complementary nucleobase, thus releasing A or T from the micelle. The molecular recognition properties exhibited by these structures have the potential to build higher ordered structures and furnish nucleobase or DNA containing nanomaterials.

中文翻译：

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水溶液中核碱基端官能化嵌段共聚物的合成，自组装和碱基配对†

分子识别在生物系统中起重要作用。利用在核苷酸之间（在DNA和RNA中）观察到的互补碱基配对来构建离散的多组分复合胶束将具有很高的价值。在这里，我们描述了用核碱基腺嘌呤（A）或胸腺嘧啶（T）。该共聚物在磷酸盐缓冲水溶液中自组装，尽管竞争激烈的水性环境，在核碱基末端官能化的嵌段共聚物和游离核碱基之间仍观察到碱基配对。仅当核碱基连接到共聚物的亲水端时，才观察到此现象。暴露在高温下会破坏核碱基端官能化的嵌段共聚物与互补核碱基之间的氢键（H键），从而从胶束中释放出A或T。这些结构表现出的分子识别特性具有建立更高序的结构并提供核碱基或含有DNA的纳米材料的潜力。