Main > NANOTECHNOLOGY > Nucleic Acids. > DNA NanoTubes > Org.: USA. U (Synthesis & Characte) > Synthesis Description

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The 1st layered nanotubes composed almost entirely of DNA have been created. Layers of DNA in the nanotubes are held together by hybridization of a series of DNA strands. The nanotubes fall apart when heated, releasing single
-stranded DNA.
The DNA nanotubes are constructed in the 100-nm diam. pores of alumina membranes. A diorganophosphonate "skin" is deposited in the pores, & Zr(IV) is used to link the diorganophosphonates
to phosphonate groups on the end of a single-stranded DNA strand. The strand s sequence is partially complementary to that of a 2nd single-stranded DNA, & thus the 2 strands can hybridize. Similarly, the 2nd DNA strand hybridizes with a 3rd DNA strand. The resulting cylindrical assembles - 3 layers of DNA plus the linkers & skin - are then released by dissolution of the template, yielding nanotubes made almost entirely of DNA.
The paper focuses primarily on nanotubes made from 15-base DNA strands, but authors also can prepare nanotubes from 8- & 12-base DNAs. "The DNA molecules composing these tubes can be varied at will".


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