title: Fractionation of SWNT/nucleic acid complexes by agarose gel electrophoresis.
abstract: We show that aqueous dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), prepared with the aid of nucleic acids (NAs) such as RNA or DNA, can be separated into fractions using agarose gel electrophoresis. In a DC electric field, SWNT/NA complexes migrate in the gel in the direction of positive potential to form well-defined bands. Raman spectroscopy as a function of band position shows that nanotubes having different spectroscopic properties possess different electrophoretic mobilities. The migration patterns for SWNT/RNA and SWNT/DNA complexes differ. Parallel elution of the SWNT/NA complexes from the gel during electrophoresis and subsequent characterization by AFM reveals differences in nanotube diameter, length and curvature. The results suggest that fractionation of nanotubes can be achieved by this procedure. We discuss factors affecting the mobility of the nanotube complexes and propose analytical applications of this technique.
authors: Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Technology and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75083, USA.
authors: Alexandre A
authors: AA
authors: Vetcher
authors: Srimeenakshi
authors: S
authors: Srinivasan
authors: Ivan A
authors: IA
authors: Vetcher
authors: Semen M
authors: SM
authors: Abramov
authors: Mikhail
authors: M
authors: Kozlov
authors: Ray H
authors: RH
authors: Baughman
authors: Stephen D
authors: SD
authors: Levene