Preparation of DNA-polyintercalator conjugate and its functional property.

Psoralen immobilized polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-P) was synthesized from chloromethylmethoxypsoralen and polyvinyl alcohol. The psoralen part of PVA-P intercalated into the double-stranded DNA and formed covalent bonding between the psoralen and nucleic acid base after 365 nm UV irradiation. As a result, DNA and PVA-P produced a water-insoluble conjugate. This DNA-PVA-P conjugate maintained the double-stranded structure of DNA and possessed the DNA's property, such as intercalation. Therefore, the DNA-PVA-P conjugate selectively accumulated the planar-structure containing chemical compounds, such as biphenyl and dibenzofuran, from an aqueous multi-component solution. These DNA-PVA-P conjugates may have the potential to be utilized as a separation material for the selective removal of harmful compounds.