Author : Mary Elizabeth Hughes
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 378 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (42 download)
Book Synopsis Studies of DNA-carbon Nanotube Interactions by : Mary Elizabeth Hughes
Download or read book Studies of DNA-carbon Nanotube Interactions written by Mary Elizabeth Hughes and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recently a new biomaterial consisting of a DNA-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotube, and known as a DNA/SWNT, has been discovered. The possible applications of this hybrid are varied and range from genomic sequencing to nanoscale electronics to molecular delivery. The realization of these potential applications requires more knowledge about the microscopic properties of this material. In this thesis, I present studies of: the orientation of nucleobases on the nanotube sidewall; the sequence and length dependence of the DNA-nanotube interaction; and solution conditions to manipulate the DNA/SWNT hybrid. The measurement of the UV optical absorbance of DNA/SWNT and the nucleotide absorbance from DNA/SWNT provide the first experimental confirmation that DNA binds to nanotubes through π-stacking. Because the hypochromic absorbance typical of π-stacked structures are expected to occur primarily for DNA dipole transitions that lie along the axis of the optically anisotropic SWNTs, the absorbance changes following binding of DNA to the nanotubes reveals the preferred orientation assumed by each of the four bound nucleotides with respect to the nanotube's long axis.