Purification, Dispersion and Biofunctionalization of Singlewall Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract:

Potential application of Carbon Nanotubes as a drug delivery system is limited by their hydrophobity and their natural tendency to aggregate in the bundles. Dispersion and solubility of Singlewall Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT) in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) solution via non covalent and covalent interactions was investigated. Galactosyl-β1-Sphyngosine (glycolipid precursor of cerebrosides, structured with a hydrophobic chain, a hydrophilic head and an amine group between them) was used. Pristine SWCNTs were wrapped with Galactosyl-β1-Sphyngosine (Gal-Sphy), whereas the carboxylic groups of the functionalized CNTs were activated in order to interact with amine groups of Galactosylsphyngosine and render the coating stronger. Samples dispersion was characterized by optical absorption spectroscopy (OAS). The comparison and efficiency of the dispersion stability of the functionalized material in respect to the pristine SWCNTs will be presented. We exploited Raman Spectroscopy to evaluate relative purity of the samples, and the Infrared analysis to characterize the presence of the functional groups on the tubes surface. The morphology of the samples was studied using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM).

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 57)
• Pages: 44-49
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AST.57.44
• Online since: September 2008
• Authors: Carla Tripisciano, E. Borowiak-Palen, R.J. Kalenczuk
• Keywords: Carbon Nanotube (CN), Covalent Functionalization, Dispersion, High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, Non-Covalent Functionalization, Optical Absorption Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy

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