Proton-fueled DNA-duplex-based stimuli-responsive reversible assembly of single-walled carbon nanotubes
Chao Zhao1, Konggang Qu, Jinsong Ren
1Division of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, 130022, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have received much attention in nanotechnology because of their potential applications in molecular electronics, field-emission devices, biomedical engineering, and biosensors. Carbon nanotubes as gene and drug delivery vectors or as "building blocks" in nano-/microelectronic devices has been successfully explored. However, since SWNTs lack chemical recognition, SWNT-based electronic devices and sensors are strictly related to the development of a bottom-up self-assembly technique. Here we present an example of using DNA duplex-based protons (H(+)) as a fuel to control reversible assembly of SWNTs without generation of waste duplex products that poison DNA-based systems.
