ssDNA Wrapping of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and the Role of Sequence Periodicity: A Critical Review
- 1Institute of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, RUDN University, 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117198, Russia
- 2School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Noncovalent hybrids of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are central to chiral sorting and near-infrared biosensing, yet no quantitative rule connects the periodicity of a natural sequence to the geometry of a given nanotube. Earlier reviews treat the sequence as a tool for sorting or sensing; this critical review asks what the published evidence up to 2026 establishes about periodicity. We compare base–wall affinities from calculation, calorimetry and force spectroscopy; the periods reported by cryo-electron microscopy, scanning tunnelling microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray scattering in solution; the recognition sequences used for single-chirality sorting; and the few studies of genomic DNA. The experimental order of base affinities depends on the method and on whether the surface is flat or curved. Helical pitches of 1.6–3.3 nm, spacings of 8.6–14.3 nm between strands in solution and the AFM period of about 14 nm are different quantities. Recognition depends on sequence pattern, length, chiral angle and handedness in addition to diameter. To our knowledge, base spacing at fixed composition has been varied only in covalently cross-linked hybrids; for noncovalent wrapping, this test is still missing. We outline the next experiments and the reporting standards and open data they require.
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BibTeX
@article{nissafi2026ssdna,
title = {{ssDNA Wrapping of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and the Role of Sequence Periodicity: A Critical Review}},
author = {Lubanah Al Nissafi and Moussa Emjeida and Raja Venkatesan and Alexandre A. Vetcher},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27219655},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9655},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - ssDNA Wrapping of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and the Role of Sequence Periodicity: A Critical Review
AU - Lubanah Al Nissafi
AU - Moussa Emjeida
AU - Raja Venkatesan
AU - Alexandre A. Vetcher
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27219655
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9655
AB - Noncovalent hybrids of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are central to chiral sorting and near-infrared biosensing, yet no quantitative rule connects the periodicity of a natural sequence to the geometry of a given nanotube. Earlier reviews treat the sequence as a tool for sorting or sensing; this critical review asks what the published evidence up to 2026 establishes about periodicity. We compare base–wall affinities from calculation, calorimetry and force spectroscopy; the periods reported by cryo-electron microscopy, scanning tunnelling microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray scattering in solution; the recognition sequences used for single-chirality sorting; and the few studies of genomic DNA. The experimental order of base affinities depends on the method and on whether the surface is flat or curved. Helical pitches of 1.6–3.3 nm, spacings of 8.6–14.3 nm between strands in solution and the AFM period of about 14 nm are different quantities. Recognition depends on sequence pattern, length, chiral angle and handedness in addition to diameter. To our knowledge, base spacing at fixed composition has been varied only in covalently cross-linked hybrids; for noncovalent wrapping, this test is still missing. We outline the next experiments and the reporting standards and open data they require.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -