|
Development of
sequence-specific DNA separation and purification techniques will
continue to be critical to unlock the potential of biotechnology. The ability to produce large amounts of plasmid DNA may
contribute to the success and validity of many biochemical
applications including gene therapy, a science currently moving
from the laboratory to the clinic.
DNA purification kits based on anion exchange
chromatography and cesium chloride gradients in the presence of
ethidium bromide are widely used methods of purification, however,
they are time consuming, require the use of hazardous materials,
are expensive, and not sequence-specific.
Sequence-specific separation will ensure that plasmids used
in gene delivery have the appropriate gene sequences needed for
encoding proper products.
This work involves development of a DNA
purification technique based on sequence specific recognition of
the target gene by specially designed surfactants.
The use of DNA-binding surfactants allows for the
implementation of hydrophobically driven separation processes such
as reverse phase and hydrophobic interaction chromatography.
The use of surfactants also gives rise to interesting
solubility phenomena which can been tuned to promote controllable
precipitation of the PNA/DNA complex allowing for two phase
separations.
|
