Intercalation behavior and tensile strength of DNA–lipid films for the dental application

In this study, we prepared DNA–lipid films and examined their intercalation behavior and tensile strength as an indicator for usefulness as a dental material. The lipids were synthesized from the reaction of glycine, -alanine, or -glutamic acid with n-alkyl alcohol in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid. The self-standing, water-insoluble DNA–lipid films were prepared by casting the DNA–lipid complex from chloroform/ethanol solution. The DNA–lipid films formed intercalation complexes with ethidium bromide. This indicates that DNA–lipid films maintain a double helical structure. The tensile strengths of DNA films were 0.8–2.4 MPa and were compatible with a commercially available material (Membrane) for guided tissue regeneration in dental use. We conclude that DNA–lipid films have potential for use as a material for the surface treatment of implanted materials or as a bone-guiding scaffold for dental application.