Supramolecular Conjugates of Carbon Nanotubes and DNA by a Solid-State Reaction

Abstract

DNA-wrapped nanotubes of both multiwalled and single-walled carbon nanotubes were obtained by a solid-state mechanochemical reaction. Scanning electron microscopic images show that the nanotubes were cut into shorter lengths and were fully covered with DNA, which was further confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. This resulted in a high aqueous solubility of the products with a stability of >6 months. The results show that nanotubes were cut also with uniform distribution where >90% of the multiwalled products were 500 nm to 3 microm and 80% of the single-walled products were 250 nm to 1 microm in length, respectively. UV-vis spectra and gel electrophorosis show that the DNA in the product is intact. This facile technique for obtaining supramolecularly masked, water-soluble carbon nanotubes by a solid-state reaction has a great potential for both biological and nonbiological applications of nanotubes.

A Facile Approach to Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube/Poly(allylamine) Nanocomposites

“…[21][22][23][24] Our research group has long been involved in the study of CNTs [25,26] and we have recently reported a novel and simple route to obtain supramolecular adducts [27] of CNT-DNA conjugates from both MWNTs and SWNTs based on a novel solid-state mechanochemical reaction. [28] In an earlier report we have also shown a rapid purification [29] and individualization [30] /dispersion [31] techniques for SWNTs. Motivated by these approaches introduced in our laboratory in association with our extensive experience with polymeric materials, [25,27,32,33] we attempted to expand this idea to the solubilization or dispersion of SWNTs with polymers, in turn facilitating the preparation of SWNT-polymer composites.…”

Preparation of carboxylate-functionalized cellulose via solvent-free mechanochemistry and its characterization as a biosorbent for removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solution

“…All these processes are caused only by the mechanical impact on the mixture of solid reagents. Previously, several stress-induced mechanochemical reactions of solid materials and organic reagents without solvent and heating have been reported [9][10][11][12][13][14]. However, as far as we know, this technique has rarely been applied on cellulose modification.…”

Carbon Nanotube‐based Vectors for Delivering Immunotherapeutics and Drugs

“…p-p interactions between the CNT sidewalls and the nucleic acid bases have been proposed as the mechanistic basis for this wrapping effect. Moreover, the ability of DNA to wrap around the CNT surface has been described for both double-stranded DNA [226,227] and single-stranded DNA [91], and has been utilized to disperse CNTs in solvents of varying polarity.…”