DNA Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes for Nonbiological Applications

Functionalization of an inorganic nanomaterial like carbon nanotube (CNT) with biological macromolecules like deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) leads to the formation of hybrid materials with fascinating properties. This article describes the structures of CNT and DNA, portrays the van der Waals force-dominant non-covalent pi-pi stacking interactions formed due to their self-assembly, and reviews the electronic, electrochemical, optical, and chemical properties of DNA-functionalized CNTs (DFCs). Current computational developments in simulating and predicting CNT-DNA interactions, alternate functionalization techniques, conformational changes of DNA bases, etc. are discussed. Various characterization techniques using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-visible, Photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectroscopy, etc. that help explain DFC properties are detailed. Potential applications for this hybrid material in nanoelectronics and chemical sensors as well as in chirality-based separation of metallic nanotubes from semiconducting ones are considered. The article concludes with current challenges, future directions of research, and prospective applications in this field.