Effects of DNA on the optical properties of cyanine dyes

摘要

Interactions with double strand structure of DNA enhance or modify the optical characteristics of organic dyes through its influences on electronic and structural properties. We investigated the absorption and emission spectra of several types of water soluble cyanine dyes, showing that the quite low concentration of DNA has large effects on the aggregate behaviors of the dyes in solutions and complex films. This effect was applied to control the J-aggregate formation of pseudo-isocyanine dye, demonstrating the J-aggregate spectra in solutions and polymer films with rather low concentration of the dyes. These results were important for realization of novel optical devices such as solid state dye laser and nonlinear optical switches incorporating DNA and other relating materials.