A novel method for the functionalization of y -irradiated single wall carbon nanotubes with DNA

摘要

In this work we describe a novel method for highly efficient functionalization of single wallcarbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by DNA wrapping. Exposure of SWCNTs to y -irradiation(50 kGy) has lowered by one order of magnitude the amount of single strandeddeoxyribonucleic acid (ssDNA) required for SWCNT modification. The resulting hybrids ofy -irradiated SWCNTs and ssDNA were characterized by optical absorbance spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopywas used to investigate the morphology of hybrids. While y -irradiation in three different mediahas significantly improved the process of SWCNT dispersion, irradiation in ammonia was themost efficient. The y -irradiated SWCNTs functionalized with ssDNA were stabilized byelectrostatic forces. This preliminary study suggests that y -irradiation can significantly improvethe functionalization of SWCNTs with DNA.