The realm of DNA-based materials combines the way DNA is manipulated and handled inside our cells with innovative ways of thinking about material science outside, for industrial purposes. About Davide Michieletto "I am a Professor of Biomaterials at the University of Edinburgh working on Topological Problems in Soft Matter and Biology. I am a 2024 Philip Leverhulme Prize Winner.I am the group leader of the Topological Active Polymers Lab. We aim to discover new DNA-based topological soft materials and complex fluids that can change properties in time. The group's expertise is rooted in polymer and statistical physics and employs both simulations and experiments to answer our questions. We believe boundaries between disciplines were made to be broken, and we do our best to shatter them every day." Key Points• DNA can be used to create programmable materials with highly specific interactions, thanks to its unique sequence-based binding properties.• Viscoelastic materials, which behave as both liquids and solids, are common in biology. Cells and tissues are examples of biological objects that can behave as both solid and liquid.• Proteins that naturally manipulate DNA in cells can be repurposed to control the behavior of DNA-based materials in biotechnology.• DNA hydrogels offer promising applications, including tissue regeneration and bio-batteries, but large-scale production remains limited by the cost of DNA synthesis.