DNA-carbon nanotubes composites as gene sensors
Abstract
Carbon fullerenes are unusually structured molecules with robust mechanical and electronic properties. Their versatility is astounding; envisioned applications range from field emission displays to impregnated metal composites, battery storage media, and nanoelectronic devices. The combination of simple constituency, diverse behavior, and ease of fabrication makes these materials a cornerstone topic in current research. This work describes experiments conducted on nanotubes using Dynamic light scattering (DLS). The aim is to detect cluster formation from individual carbon nanotube (CNT) solutions using a nanotube DNA binding sequence and a secondary recognizing complementary DNA sequence to bind neighboring CNTs. Dynamic Light Scattering is an available method for characterization of particles in solution and size determination of them based on their dynamics in solution. The size detection window of this technique makes it uniquely suited for observing sequence specific CNT aggregation. Although both functionalized Multi-Wall carbon nantoubes (f-MWCNTs) and functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes (f-SWNTs) were explored in this thesis the primary subject of this study is a glycosylated Single-Wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT-Glycol). Measurements indicate that the most adept type of CNT for aggregation studies is the SWCNT-Glycol, with superior dispersibility and smaller aggregates that fall within detection limit. In particular it did demonstrate to aggregate only when the binding DNA sequences were introduced into the sample.
Subject Area
Organic chemistry
Recommended Citation
Alarcon Valenzuela, Hugo, "DNA-carbon nanotubes composites as gene sensors" (2012). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI10118136.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI10118136