Attaching Proteins to Carbon Nanotubes via Diimide-Activated Amidation

ACS Citation

Huang, W.; Taylor, S.; Fu, K.; Lin, Y.; Zhang, D.; Hanks, T. W.; Rao, A. M.; Sun, Y. Attaching Proteins to Carbon Nanotubes via Diimide-Activated Amidation. Nano Lett. 2002, 2, 311-314.

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes are functionalized by bovine serum albumin (BSA) proteins via diimide-activated amidation under ambient conditions. The nanotube-BSA conjugates thus obtained are highly water-soluble, forming dark-colored aqueous solutions. Results from characterizations using atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermal gravimetric analysis, Raman, and gel electrophoresis show that the conjugate samples indeed contain both carbon nanotubes and BSA proteins and that the protein species are intimately associated with the nanotubes. Bioactivities of the nanotube-bound proteins are evaluated using the total protein micro-determination assay (the modified Lowry procedure). The results show that the overwhelming majority (?90%) of the protein species in the nanotube-BSA conjugates remain bioactive. Carbon nanotubes are functionalized by bovine serum albumin (BSA) proteins via diimide-activated amidation under ambient conditions. The nanotube-BSA conjugates thus obtained are highly water-soluble, forming dark-colored aqueous solutions. Results from characterizations using atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermal gravimetric analysis, Raman, and gel electrophoresis show that the conjugate samples indeed contain both carbon nanotubes and BSA proteins and that the protein species are intimately associated with the nanotubes. Bioactivities of the nanotube-bound proteins are evaluated using the total protein micro-determination assay (the modified Lowry procedure). The results show that the overwhelming majority (?90%) of the protein species in the nanotube-BSA conjugates remain bioactive.

Source Name

Nano Letters

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Volume

2

Issue

4

Page(s)

5331-5331

Document Type

Citation

Citation Type

Article

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