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The first biopolymer-wrapped non-carbon nanotubes

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Mohtashim H Shamsi and Kurt E Geckeler1

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DNA-wrapped halloysite nanotubes were obtained by a mechanochemical reaction in the solid state. The characterization by scanning electron microscopy showed that the nanotubes were cut into shorter lengths and were completely covered with DNA. This resulted in a high aqueous solubility of the product with stability of the solution for about 6 weeks. The nanotubes were cut to different fractions with lengths of 200–400 nm (30–40%), 400–600 nm (10–20%) and 600–800 nm (5–10%) after ball milling. FTIR spectroscopic analysis shows that the DNA in the product remained intact. This straightforward technique for obtaining water-soluble halloysite nanotubes by a solid-state reaction has great potential for biomedical applications of nanotubes.


PACS

87.14.G- Nucleic acids

87.85.Qr Nanotechnologies-design

82.35.Pq Biopolymers, biopolymerization

87.15.M- Spectra of biomolecules

81.16.-c Methods of nanofabrication and processing

Subjects

Soft matter, liquids and polymers

Biological physics

Nanoscale science and low-D systems

Chemical physics and physical chemistry

Dates

Issue 7 (20 February 2008)

Received 10 October 2007, in final form 30 November 2007

Published 31 January 2008



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