DNA adsorption characteristics of hollow spherical allophane nano-particles

Abstract

To understand the propensity of the natural allophane to adsorb the DNA molecules, the adsorption characteristics were assessed against a natural allophane, using single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA) and adenosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-AMP) as a reference molecule. The adsorption capacity of ss-DNA on AK70 exhibited one order of magnitude lower value as compared with that of 5'-AMP. The adsorption capacity of ss-DNA decreased with increasing pH due to the interaction generated between phosphate groups of ss-DNA and functional Al-OH groups on the wall perforations through deprotonation, associated with higher energy barrier for the adsorption of ss-DNA. The adsorption morphologies consisting of the individual ss-DNA with mono-layer coverage of the allophane clustered particle was successfully observed through TEM analysis.