DNA-templated nanotube localization.
Carbon nanotubes are nanometer-scale materials with important properties, but their use in nanofabrication will require further development of methods for controlled positioning at well-defined locations on surfaces. We have devised an approach for specifically localizing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) onto 1-pyrenemethylamine (PMA)-decorated lambda-DNA molecules aligned on Si surfaces. PMA is used as a bridging compound because its amine group is attracted electrostatically to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of DNA, while the pyrenyl group in PMA interacts with SWNT surfaces through pi-stacking forces. From a total of 60 atomic force microscopy images obtained on three different substrates, we determined that 63% of SWNTs observed on the surfaces were anchored along DNA, and these nanotubes covered approximately 5% of the total DNA length. DNA-templated nanopositioning offers intriguing possibilities for the bottom-up assembly of materials at the nanometer scale.
Xin
Huijun
H
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602-5700, USA.
Woolley
Adam T
AT
D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry
D004279:DNA, Viral; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D012825:Silicon