Dresden 2009 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 2: Biopolymers and Biomaterials (joint session BP/CPP)

BP 2.7: Talk

Monday, March 23, 2009, 12:30–12:45, ZEU 260

Encapsulation of carbon nanotubes within the microtubules — •Melinda Varga^1,2, Nitesh Ranjan¹, Wolfgang Pompe¹, and Michael Mertig¹ — ¹Institute for Materials Science and Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, Dresden University of Technology, D-01062 Dresden, Germany — ²Institut for Genetics, Dresden University of Technology, D-01062 Dresden, Germany

Manipulation and local defined positioning of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is one of the main challenges in CNT-based nanotechnology. Here we report the encapsulation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) into the lumen of microtubules with the aim to accomplish a biological functionalization of the CNTs and to elucidate motor-driven active transport of these one-dimensional wires. The encapsulation is obtained by self-assembly of microtubules from tubulin dimers in the presence of CNTs. To this end, a two-step procedure was developed including dispersion of single-walled CNT with tubulin dimers and subsequent polymerization of the protein tubes [1,2]. The obtained products were characterized by various scanning probe and electron microscopy methods. The presence of CNTs within the microtubules was proven by electrostatic force measurements (EFM).

[1] M. Varga, Master thesis: ''The interaction of tubulin dimers with carbon nanotubes", Dresden University of Technology (2006). [2] N. Ranjan, Ph.D. thesis: ''Dielectrophoretic formation of nanowires and devices", Dresden University of Technology (2008).