Binding and condensation of plasmid DNA onto functionalized carbon nanotubes: towards the construction of nanotube-based gene delivery vectors

In the present report, we study the interactions of three types of f-CNTs, ammonium-functionalized single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWNT-NH3 +; MWNT-NH3 +), and lysine-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTLys- NH3 +), with plasmid DNA. Nanotube-DNA complexes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, PicoGreen dye exclusion, and agarose gel shift assay. The results indicate that all three types of cationic carbon nanotubes are able to condense DNA to varying degrees, indicating that both nanotube surface area and charge density are critical parameters that determine the interaction and electrostatic complex formation between f-CNTs with DNA.