Deploying RNA and DNA with Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are explored as carriers for nucleic acid delivery.
• Functionalized CNTs (f-CNTs) are crucial for stable nucleic acid complexation.
• Understanding f-CNT-nucleic acid interactions is vital for in vivo applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the binding capacity of f-CNTs for single- and double-strand oligonucleotides.
• To determine the thermodynamics, kinetics, and stoichiometry of f-CNT-nucleic acid assembly.
• To elucidate the mechanism of nucleic acid binding and release from f-CNTs.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of f-CNT-oligonucleotide complexes in aqueous solution.
• Thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of assembly.
• Spectroscopic techniques (³¹P-NMR, fluorescence emission) to study binding and release.

Main Results:

• f-CNTs exhibit high binding affinity (nanomolar range) for oligonucleotides.
• Complexation is rapid, with 1-5 sequences binding per nanotube.
• Electrostatic, hydrogen-bonding, and π-stacking interactions mediate assembly.
• Conditions for stable binding and cargo transport were identified.
• A mechanism for controlled nucleic acid release was discovered.

Conclusions:

• Soluble nucleic acid-f-CNT supramolecular assemblies are suitable for in vivo gene delivery.
• f-CNTs offer a promising platform for efficient and controllable nucleic acid transport.
• The discovered release mechanism enhances the potential of f-CNTs as gene delivery vehicles.