Deoxyribonucleic Acid Biopolymer Research Articles

Spectroscopy and non-linear optical properties of DNA - Bilberry complex

Natural extracts are getting more attention due to the fast degradability rate and low toxicity. In this paper the obtained results for the complex based on deoxyribonucleic acid biopolymer with bilberry (BBE) natural extract are presented and discussed. The interaction between the two materials (DNA-BBE complex) was evaluated by measuring the linear optical properties using UV–Vis and fluorescence spectral methods. Furthermore, the DNA-BBE complex was used for non-linear optical (NLO) properties investigations of the obtained thin films on glass substrate by spin-coating technique. Also, the optical damage threshold of the studied DNA-BBE complexes was measured in order to check their potentiality and interest for application in photonics.

All-optical spatial phase modulation in films of dye-doped DNA biopolymer

The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a new “green” photonic material with promising applications in organic photonics. In this paper we report the results obtained in an experimental study of the spatial phase modulation induced by light in DNA – cetyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (CTMA) – Disperse Red (DR1) films. Using a pump-probe interferometric method, recently introduced by us, the spatial distribution of the optical phase change, its magnitude and its dependence on the incident pump intensity are determined in the investigated DNA-CTMA-DR1 films. Processes responsible for the light-induced phase modulation in DNA-CTMA-DR1 film are briefly discussed and their contribution to the overall phase modulation is estimated. The results are important for nonlinear photonics in applications based on all-optical spatial light modulation.

Optically controlled multiple switching operations of DNA biopolymer devices

We present optically tunable operations of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) biopolymer devices, where a single high-resistance state, write-once read-many-times memory state, write-read-erase memory state, and single low-resistance state can be achieved by controlling UV irradiation time. The device is a simple sandwich structure with a spin-coated DNA biopolymer layer sandwiched by two electrodes. Upon irradiation, the electrical properties of the device are adjusted owing to a phototriggered synthesis of silver nanoparticles in DNA biopolymer, giving rise to multiple switching scenarios. This technique, distinct from the strategy of doping of pre-formed nanoparticles, enables a post-film fabrication process for achieving optically controlled memory device operations, which provides a more versatile platform to fabricate organic memory and optoelectronic devices.

Nanoimprint lithography of deoxyribonucleic acid biopolymer films

Thermal nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is presented as an alternative fabrication technique for patterning deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) biopolymer films for photonic device applications. The techniques and procedures developed for directly imprinting optical waveguide structures on a DNA biopolymer using NIL, bypassing the use of a resist layer and any chemical processing, are outlined here. The fabrication technique was developed with a Nanonex NX-2600 NIL flexible membrane system. Additionally, a process for using a Suss MicroTec ELAN CB6L substrate bonder is discussed as an alternative to commercially available NIL systems.

Dielectric Tunability of DNA Biopolymer Films with Varying Amounts of Hexadecyltrimethylammonium Chloride

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) biopolymer films are fabricated with varying amounts of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTMA), which is a surfactant necessary to produce a DNA complex that is soluble in organic solvents. The dielectric constant (κ) of these films at microwave frequencies as a function of applied static electric field (E DC) is investigated. Results show that the dependence of κ on E DC, which is referred to as the dielectric tunability, is influenced by the amount of CTMA in the complex. Dielectric tunability is suppressed when the amount of CTMA is insufficient and improved when more CTMA is added. However, excessive amounts of CTMA also result in a very rough film surface that causes shorting problems when used in a capacitive structure. A varactor employing a 1-μm-thick DNA biopolymer film as the dielectric is demonstrated. Under 5 V DC bias, which generates E DC = 5 V/μm, its capacitance at 15 GHz changes by 0.04 pF. This change corresponds to a relative dielectric tunability of 6.6%. A simple application of this varactor for modulation of the power transmitted through a microwave transmission line is also demonstrated.

Polymeric waveguide electro-optic beam-steering device with DNA biopolymer conductive cladding layers

A polymer electro-optic (EO) waveguide beam-steering device with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) biopolymer conductive cladding layers and a core layer of the commercially available EO polymer SEO100 is demonstrated with 100% relative poling efficiency. This demonstration device exhibits a deflection efficiency of 99 mrad/kV with a corresponding in-device EO coefficient r33 of 124 pm/V at 1550 nm. When the DNA biopolymer bottom cladding layer is replaced by the commonly used cladding polymer UV15, the deflection efficiency and in-device r33 drop to 34 mrad/kV and 43 pm/V, respectively.

Modified processing techniques of a DNA biopolymer for enhanced performance in photonics applications

Significant modifications have been made in the processing techniques developed to transform purified, marine-based deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into a biopolymer suitable for optical and electronic device fabrication. This technique employs a modified soxhlet-dialysis rinsing process to completely remove excess ionic contaminants from the DNA biopolymer, resulting in a material with greater mechanical stability and enhanced performance reproducibility.

Stability of Selected Chromophores in Biopolymer Matrix

Photochemical and thermal stability of thin films formed from selected optically responsive chromophores embedded in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), Collagen and in the complex formed by DNA biopolymer and the surfactant hexadecyl ammonium (CTMA) matrix was studied by UV-VIS and compared with that observed when using some synthetic polymers (polymethylmetacrylate – PMMA, polycarbonate – PC). In particular the influence of external stimuli, such as heating and UV light on the chemical degradation process was investigated.

Functional DNA biopolymers and nanocomposite for optoelectronic applications

In this study, we present the synthesis and characterization of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based biopolymers using aromatic surfactants. These DNA biopolymers can be dissolved in organic solvents and the material processing is compatible in conventional manufacturing platform of organic devices. Material properties, including optical transmission, optical dispersion, thermal stability, and energy levels were characterized. By incorporating a photo-triggered synthesis approach, nanocomposite consisting of metal nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in DNA biopolymers was obtained by light irradiation. The results demonstrate the versatile properties of synthesized DNA biopolymers, which hold promise for the fabrication of functional DNA biopolymer thin-film devices and photoinduced DNA–NPs nanocomposite for plasmonic nanostructures, holographic applications, and optical storage devices.

DNA biopolymer conductive cladding for polymer electro-optic waveguide modulators

A deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) biopolymer has been studied for use as a conductive cladding layer in polymer electro-optic (EO) waveguide modulators due to its low optical loss and high electrical conductivity relative to its inorganic polymer counterparts. Electric field contact poling measurements using a DNA biopolymer cladding layer with an amorphous polycarbonate/chromophore (APC/CLD1) guest-host system core layer have been made and compared to a UV15 cladding layer. Using the EO coefficient of APC/CLD1 with no cladding layer as a baseline, the DNA biopolymer cladding layer yielded relative poling efficiencies of 96% while the UV15 poling efficiencies were only 51%.