1208.0739 (Anh D. Phan et al.)

A new type of optical biosensor from DNA wrapped semiconductor graphene
ribbons    [PDF]

Anh D. Phan, N. A. Viet

Based on a model of the optical biosensors (Science 311, 508 (2006)) by wrapping a piece of double-stranded DNA around the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), we propose a new design model of this sensor, in which the SWCNT is replaced by a semiconductor graphene ribbon (SGR). Using a simple theory of exciton in SGRs, we investigated transition of DNA secondary structure from the native, right-handed B form to the alternate, left-handed Z form. This structural phase transition of DNA is the working principle of this optical biosensor at the sub cellular level from DNA and semiconductor graphene ribbons.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1208.0739