title: Molecular discriminators using single wall carbon nanotubes.
abstract: The interaction between single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and amphiphilic molecules has been studied in a solid phase. SWNTs are allowed to interact with different amphiphilic probes (e.g. lipids) in a narrow capillary interface. Contact between strong hydrophobic and amphiphilic interfaces leads to a molecular restructuring of the lipids at the interface. The geometry of the diffusion front and the rate and the extent of diffusion of the interface are dependent on the structure of the lipid at the interface. Lecithin having a linear tail showed greater mobility of the interface as compared to a branched tail lipid like dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, indicating the hydrophobic interaction between single wall carbon nanotube core and the hydrophobic tail of the lipid. Solid phase interactions between SWNT and lipids can thus become a very simple but efficient means of discriminating amphiphilic molecules in general and lipids in particular.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700019, India.
authors.forename: Tamoghna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.forename: Anjan Kr
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.forename: Nihar Ranjan
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Sabyasachi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D015335:Molecular Probes