Progresses in organic field-effect transistors and molecular electronics

In the past years, organic semiconductors have been extensively investigated as electronic materials for organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). In this review, we briefly summarize the current status of organic field-effect transistors including materials design, device physics, molecular electronics and the applications of carbon nanotubes in molecular electronics. Future prospects and investigations required to improve the OFET performance are also involved. __________ Translated from Huaxue Tongbao (Chemistry), 2006, 69(6) (in Chinese)     

A Supramolecular Complex in Small-Molecule Solar Cells based on Contorted Aromatic Molecules

"Ball and socket" motif: The contorted dibenzotetrathienocoronene (6-DBTTC) forms a complex with the C(70) fullerene PC(70) BM embedded in an amorphous phase of PC(70) BM. The materials are processable into organic solar cells in solution. The power conversion efficiency is maximal when there is a 1:2 molar ratio of 6-DBTTC to PC(70) BM. Formation of the supramolecular complex directly affects charge separation in the active layer.     

基于纳米间隔电极对的DNA分子结电输运的研究进展

脱氧核糖核酸分子是一类重要的生物分子, 在生物医学领域之外, 该类分子还因为其所具有的独特的双螺旋结构以及长程输运能力, 在分子电子学领域也引起了研究者的极大兴趣. 本文综述了近年来基于纳米间隔电极对构筑分子结这一研究范式, 在构筑脱氧核糖核酸分子结以及研究后者的电输运性质等方面的研究进展. 依据研究者所采用的不同纳米间隔电极对构筑技术, 主要围绕裂结法和切割法两大类研究方法所展开. 前者主要包括扫描隧道显微镜裂结法、导电原子力显微镜法、机械可控裂结法, 后者则主要包括碳纳米管切割法、石墨烯切割法、硅纳米线切割法. 在梳理不同实验方法的发展脉络、比较不同实验方法的各自特点的基础上, 对一些具有代表性的关于脱氧核糖核酸分子结的研究工作进行了重点介绍, 探讨了脱氧核糖核酸分子结所具有的与常规小分子体系所不同的特殊电学性质, 同时对该领域的未来发展进行了展望.     

RNA-templated single-base mutation detection based on T4 DNA ligase and reverse molecular beacon

A novel RNA-templated single-base mutation detection method based on T4 DNA ligase and reverse molecular beacon (rMB) has been developed and successfully applied to identification of single-base mutation in codon 273 of the p53 gene. The discrimination was carried out using allele-specific primers, which flanked the variable position in the target RNA and was ligated using T4 DNA ligase only when the primers perfectly matched the RNA template. The allele-specific primers also carried complementary stem structures with end-labels (fluorophore TAMRA, quencher DABCYL), which formed a molecular beacon after RNase H digestion. One-base mismatch can be discriminated by analyzing the change of fluorescence intensity before and after RNase H digestion. This method has several advantages for practical applications, such as direct discrimination of single-base mismatch of the RNA extracted from cell; no requirement of PCR amplification; performance of homogeneous detection; and easily design of detection probes.     

Affinity biosensors based on disposable screen-printed electrodes modified with DNA

Simple and sensitive DNA sensors have been developed on a base on graphite screen-printed electrodes modified with DNA and enzymes. Cholinesterase and peroxidase immobilized by treatment with glutaraldehyde were used for the detection of human DNA antibodies of systemic lupus erythematosus and bronchial asthma patients. The amperometric signal was measured at +680 mV versus Ag/AgCl for DNA-cholinesterase sensor and −150 mV for DNA-peroxidase sensor 5 min after the injection of acethylthiocholine and hydroquinone, respectively. The addition of serum samples results in the sharp decrease of the signal due to the formation of DNA-antibody adducts followed by the suppression of the access of substrate to the enzyme active site. Sulfonamide medicines suppress the DNA-antibody interaction due to the competitive binding along DNA minor grooves. DNA sensor labeled with peroxidase showed the linear calibration range of 5×10⁻⁹ to 7×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ of sulfamethoxazole and of 5×10⁻⁸ to 1×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ of sulfathiazole.     

Label-free molecular beacon system based on DNAs containing abasic sites and fluorescent ligands that bind abasic sites

A new class of label-free molecular beacon (MB) system based on DNA strands that contain abasic (AP) sites (AP-DNA) and adopt stem-loop structures, in combination with fluorescent ligands that bind these AP sites, has been developed. Unlike a conventional MB, which requires covalent labeling of the MB with a fluorophore and a quencher, the developed system (APMB) does not require covalent attachment of signal transduction units. Detailed sensing functions of a series of APMB systems were examined with the aid of the fluorescent ligand named ATMND to provide insight into the design strategy for APMB systems. The effects of the stem length and the position of the AP site in the stem moiety on the fluorescence response of the APMB system were examined. Genotyping of a G/C SNP of PCR amplification products was successfully demonstrated with the APMB system and blue-fluorescent ATMND as a ligand. The APMB system was further extended to a system that utilized green-fluorescent lumiflavin.     

A group of 3D graphical representation of DNA sequences based on dual nucleotides

Based on chemical properties of the neighboring dual nucleotides, we reduce a DNA sequence into four 3D graphical representations. Associating with the eigenvalues of the introduced covariance matrix and the introduced measure of similarity, we introduce an approach to make similarity analysis of DNA sequence. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Synthesis and testing of new end-functionalized oligomers for molecular electronics

Several new classes of oligomers have been synthesized with functionalities designed to aid in the understanding of molecular device behavior, specifically when molecules are interfaced between proximal electronic probes. The compounds synthesized are series of azobenzenes, bipyridines and oligo(phenylene vinylene)s that bear acetyl-protected thiols for ultimate attachment to metallic surfaces. Some initial electrochemical and solid-state test results are also reported.     

A novel thermogelling matrix for microchannel DNA sequencing based on poly-N-alkoxyalkylacrylamide copolymers

We have developed a novel class of thermogelling polymer networks based on poly-N-alkoxyalkylacrylamides, and demonstrated their use as DNA sequencing matrices for high-throughput microchannel electrophoresis in capillary arrays. Polymers and copolymers of N-ethoxyethylacrylamide (NEEA) and N-methoxyethylacrylamide (NMEA) were synthesized by aqueous-phase free-radical polymerization and characterized by tandem gel permeation chromatography-multi-angle laser light scattering. These copolymer matrices exhibit "re-entrant"-type volume phase transitions, forming entangled networks with high shear viscosity at low (< 20 degrees C) and high (> 35 degrees C) temperatures, and undergoing a "coil-to-globular", lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-like phase transition over an intermediate temperature range (20-35 degrees C). Hence, matrix viscosity is relatively low at room temperature (25 degrees C), and increases rapidly above 35 degrees C. The material properties and phase behavior of these thermogelling polymer networks were studied by steady-shear rheometry. These matrices are easily loaded into capillary arrays at room temperature while existing as viscous fluids, but thermogel above 35 degrees C to form transparent hydrogels via a thermo-associative phase transition. The extent of the intermediate viscosity drop and the final viscosity increase depends on the composition of the copolymers. DNA sequencing by capillary array electrophoresis with four-color laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection shows that these thermogelling networks provide enhanced resolution of both small and large DNA sequencing fragments and longer sequencing read lengths, in comparison to appropriate control (closely related, nonthermogelling) polymer networks. In particular, a copolymer comprised of 90% w/w NMEA and 10% w/w NEEA, with a molecular mass of approximately 2 MDa, delivers around 600 bases at 98.5% base-calling accuracy in 100 min of electrophoresis.     

Functionalized Nanogap for DNA Read-Out: Nucleotide Rotation and Current-Voltage Curves

Functionalized nanogaps embedded in nanopores show a strong potential for enhancing the detection of biomolecules, their length, type, and sequence. This detection is strongly dependent on the features of the target biomolecules, as well as the characteristics of the sensing device. In this work, through quantum-mechanical calculations, we elaborate on representative such aspects for the specific case of DNA detection and read-out. These aspects include the influence of single DNA nucleotide rotation within the nanogap and the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the nanogap. The results unveil a distinct variation in the electronic current across the functionalized device for the four natural DNA nucleotides with the applied voltage. These also underline the asymmetric response of the rotating nucleotides on this applied voltage and the respective variation in the rectification ratio of the device. The electronic tunneling current across the nanogap can be further enhanced through the proper choice of an applied bias voltage. We were able to correlate the enhancement of this current to the nucleotide rotation dynamics and a shift of the electronic transmission peaks towards the Fermi level. This nucleotide specific shift further reveals the sensitivity of the device in reading-out the identity of the DNA nucleotides for all different configurations in the nanogap. We underline the important information that can be obtained from both the I-V curves and the rectification characteristics of the nanogap device in view of accurately reading-out the DNA information. We show that tuning the applied bias can enhance this detection and discuss the implications in view of novel functionalized nanopore sequencers.