Adsorptive Selectivity of DNA/Polyvinyl Alcohol Interpenetrating Polymer Networks

Abstract

An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) containing natural DNA was prepared by cross-linking polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with a glutaraldehyde (GA) reagent and then cross-linking DNA with UV irradiation. This DNA/PVA IPN structure could selectively bind chemicals with affinity for DNA, and adsorb L-tryptophan (L-Trp) with a high chiral-selectivity over D-Trp. More than ten times more L-Trp was adsorbed on the DNA/PVA IPN membrane than D-Trp. This readily available adsorbent has high prospects in diverse practical applications, such as the removal of pollutants from water, purification of medicines, as well as separation of enantiomers.

Keywords:

• adsorbility
• DNA
• interpenetrating polymer network
• separation

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was supported by the National natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50872124 and 51003096) and the Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Research Program (No. 111129A4Y10804 and 11112732611021).

Notes

^a SIPN-D, P are the semi-IPNs that only DNA or PVA cross-linked, respectively.

^b UV-DNA membrane was prepared by irradiating UV light on DNA membrane without PVA.

^a AA (%) means the adsorbed amount (%) of the compound to the membrane.

^b All IPN membranes contain DNA (0.7 mg, 0.98 µmol bp).

^c Marked solutions were prepared with ethanol-water (3:7, v/v) solvent, and other solutions were made with distilled water.

^d No change in UV absorbance throughout the treatment.

^a All solutions (10 ml, 20 µM) of the amino acids were prepared with PBS buffer; all IPN membranes contain DNA (0.7 mg, 0.98 µmol bp).

^b AA (%) means the adsorbed amount (%) of the amino acid to the membrane.

^c No change in UV absorbance throughout the treatment.

^d Arg, Trp, and Phe were Arginine, Tryptophan, and Phenylglycine, respectively.