Covalently linked deoxyribonucleic acid with multiwall carbon nanotubes: Synthesis and characterization.

We have developed a multistep method to covalently link functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) oligonucleotides. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to characterize the initial chemical modification to form amine-terminated MWNTs, which were then covalently combined with DNA. The morphology recorded by atomic force microscopy gave direct and explicit imaging of the resulting DNA-MWNT adducts, showing that chemical functionalization occurred at the ends and sidewalls of MWNTs. The present methodology is an important first step in realizing a DNA-guided self-assembly process for carbon nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]