Preparation of polysulfone hollow microspheres encapsulating DNA and their functional utilization

Abstract

Polysulfone hollow microspheres encapsulating DNA were prepared using a liquid–liquid phase separation technique. The microspheres were then used to absorb a DNA-binding intercalating material — ethidium bromide. The amount of DNA encapsulated in the microspheres depended on the concentration of the DNA solution used to prepare the microspheres, and the microsphere morphology depended on both the polymer concentration and the preparation conditions. The amount of ethidium bromide in the microspheres depended mainly on the amount of encapsulated DNA, and the microsphere morphology also affected the removal of the ethidium bromide. The new method of DNA encapsulation is proposed, and the microspheres encapsulating the DNA have the potential to be used in environmental applications.

Keywords: :

• DNA
• polysulfone
• hollow microspheres
• encapsulation
• phase separation