Abstract
Although much research has been performed on DNA complexes carrying long alkyl chains (C10, C16, and C18), there is no information about physicochemical characterization of synthesized composites with allyl imidazole-based ionic liquids and quaternary ammonium salts with n-butyl chains. Here, complexes were synthesized by ion-exchange reactions between sonicated DNA and three ionic liquids (ILs) formed from two imidazole-based compounds, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (Amim) or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (Bmim), and from the quaternary ammonium salt tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB). Signals in UV–Vis, IR, and CD spectra indicating inclusion of small molecules into the DNA structure confirmed the formation of DNA complexes. Both IR and CD spectra indicated that the B-form conformation of the DNA did not change after the formation of the complexes. Similarly, X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that the formation of IL–DNA complexes did not change the structure of native B-form DNA. Molecular weight (Mw) and radii of gyration (Rg) values of IL–DNA complex chains, established by high-performance size exclusion chromatography coupled with multiangle-laser light-scattering with a differential refractive index detector, were significantly lower than those values found for native DNA molecules due to DNA fragmentation by sonication during complex formation and the direct effects of the IL on the DNA. Scanning electron microscopy images indicate the formation of nanofibres in DNA-Amim and DNA-Bmim complexes, whereas the formation of nanowires was found in samples of DNA-TBAB complexes. Changes in optical properties confirmed by UV and photoluminescence make DNA–IL complexes potential candidates for biosensor application.Graphical abstract
Highlights
In recent years, great interest has been attracted by studies of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules as an inexpensive, renewable material for numerous applications in organic LEDs and laser structures
Much research has been performed on DNA complexes carrying long alkyl chains (C10, C16, C18) (Kwon et al 2012; Sivapragasam et al 2016), there is no information about physicochemical characterization of synthesized composites with allyl imidazole-based ionic liquids and quaternary ammonium salts with n-butyl chains
Our work shows the differences in physicochemical properties of our ionic liquids (ILs)–DNA complexes compared to pure DNA and other conjugates which determine their potential applications in optoelectronics and biosensors
Summary
Great interest has been attracted by studies of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules as an inexpensive, renewable material for numerous applications in organic LEDs and laser structures. Over the last few years, a number of optoelectronic devices have been fabricated using DNA These DNA complexes normally possess high resistivity and efficiency, making them useful in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic lasers, nonlinear optical (NLO) polymer electro-optic modulators and nanofibers (Sun et al 2009; Zalar et al 2011; Hung et al 2012). A considerable number of publications have focused on the fabrication of photonic devices based on DNA-CTMA (cetyltrimethylammonium chloride) complexes. This is due to the fact that such structures have self-assembly properties and could produce nanometer-scale supramolecular assemblies (Aga et al 2013; Pratap Reddy et al 2017; Gajria et al 2011)
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