Use of DNA molecules as a natural nanotechnology material attracts a great scientific interest last years. Exploration of DNA conductive properties and creation of DNA-nanoparticle complexes may open the way for the new class of electronic nanodevices which in some respects may be preferred to the nanotube ones. ETALON tips by NT-MDT help the scientists to study such complexes in fine details.

Images were obtained on Solver-PRO AFM in semicontact mode. HA-NC ETALON tip was used for scan, cantilever length 115 µm, frequency 102 KHz. Five 450 base pair poly(dG)-poly(dC) double stranded DNA molecules are connected to 5 nm gold nanoparticle via SH group at the end of each of DNA molecules for the each complex. The sample was deposed in 2mM Ni2+ and placed on fresh mica surface for 2 minutes. Mica was thoroughly washed with DDW and dried by N2 blow. AFM study shows that complexes are fairly reproducible and all individual molecules of the complex are clearly resolved. With the other end of DNA molecules connected to other nanoparticle these complexes will be placed in between gold electrodes and their ability to conduct electrical current will be examined.

 

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DNA model from  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DNA_orbit_animated_small.gif