Development of sheared and ultra-pure DNA thin films prepared by ultrasonication and purification

DNA solutions were prepared by ultrasonication and purification to compare the characteristics between DNA solutions different in size, purity, or both. Ultrasonication effectively minimized the size variation in native DNA, while purification enhanced the transparency of fabricated DNA thin film. Each DNA solution was used to fabricate water-soluble or organic-soluble thin film. According to the electrical measurement of DNA and CTMA-modified DNA thin films and the fluorescence measurement of PicoGreen-embedded DNA thin films, ultrasonication and purification affect the electrical characteristics and intercalating efficiency of DNA thin films. The electrical properties of the water-soluble thin film and the organic-dissolved thin film were predominantly affected by purification, but opposite tendencies were observed. The highest resistance was observed in water-soluble DNA thin film fabricated from ultra-pure DNA, whereas organic-soluble DNA thin film from ultra-pure DNA showed the lowest resistance. Ultrasonication showed a synergistic effect on PicoGreen-DNA insertion, whereas purification suppressed the fluorescence signal.