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DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers
Published on: October 25, 2017
Individually resolved DNA molecules stretched and embedded in electrospun polymer nanofibers
Leon M Bellan1, Joshua D Cross, Elizabeth A Strychalski
1School of Applied and Engineering Physics and Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. Lmb79@cornell.edu
Nano Letters
|November 9, 2006
Summary
Researchers stretched DNA molecules using electrospinning. This technique fixed the DNA within nanofibers, allowing observation of its full contour length.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- DNA molecule manipulation is crucial for various biotechnological applications.
- Controlling DNA conformation and length is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of electrospinning jet flow for elongating and fixing DNA molecules.
- To embed and observe DNA within nanofibers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the flow characteristics of an electrospinning jet.
- Embedded fluorescently labeled lambda bacteriophage DNA in polyethylene oxide nanofibers.
- Imaged the DNA using fluorescence microscopy.
Main Results:
- DNA molecules were successfully embedded and stretched within nanofibers.
- Observed DNA lengths approached the full dyed contour length, indicating significant elongation.
- Polyethylene oxide nanofibers provided a stable matrix for DNA observation.
Conclusions:
- Electrospinning is an effective method for elongating and fixing DNA molecules.
- This technique allows for the study of DNA at near-full contour lengths.
- The embedded DNA in nanofibers has potential applications in biosensing and nanotechnology.
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