Nature of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes' Interactions with Differing Photosensitizers
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Abstract
It was recently discovered that when Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) wrapped with single-stranded DNA are exposed to singlet oxygen the singlet oxygen reacts with the guanine nucleotides embedded in the DNA. The singlet oxygen is produced by irradiation of a photosensitizer. However, researchers have observed that when rose bengal is used as photosensitizer, all nanotube species are functionalized, but when porphyrin-based photosensitizers are used, selective species of nanotube are functionalized.(1) The point of this study is to understand this selective interaction. Through experimentation, we used (GT)20 wrapped SWCNT solution, and SDBS suspended nanotube solution, to measure absorption and fluorescence spectra of SWCNTs to study the interactions of SWCNT with a porphyrin based dye. We compared how each nanotube species interactions differed upon addition of the photosensitizer. So far we have observed the selective interactions of the dye with different nanotube species through quenching of SWCNT fluorescence upon addition of the dye.
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NSF's Nano Research Experience for Teachers at Rice University- NSF EEC-1406885
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Office of STEM Engagement, Rice University, Houston, TX