Enzymatic collapse of artificial polymer composite material containing double-stranded DNA

Large amounts of DNA-enriched biomaterials, such as salmon milts and shellfish gonads, are discarded as industrial waste around the world. Therefore, the utilizations of DNA with the specific function are important for the biomaterial science and the curce technology. We could convert the discarded DNA to an enzymatic collapsible material by the addition of DNA to the artificial polymer material, such as nylon. Although these DNA-artificial polymer composite materials were stable in water, these materials indicated the collapsibility at the DNA-hydrolyzed enzyme, such as Micrococcal nuclease, condition. Additionally, these collapsibilities under enzyme condition were controlled by the number of imino groups in the components of the artificial polymer. Furthermore, these composite materials could create the fiber form with a highly ordered molecular orientation by the reaction at the liquid/liquid interface. The DNA-artificial polymer composite materials may have the potential utility as a novel bio-, medical-, and environmental materials with the enzymatic collapsibility and degradability.