INTELLIGENT MATERIALS PROPERTIES OF DNA AND STRATEGIES FOR ITS INCORPORATION INTO ELECTROACTIVE POLYMERIC THIN-FILM SYSTEMS

We propose to create a novel class of intelligent materials by integrating two separate classes of intelligent materials-one biological and the other a thin film conducting polymer. The first class, DNA possesses superior intelligent material properties designed over evolutionary time to function specifically and efficiently in integrated macromolecular arrays in cells called chromosomes. The second material is the polymeric thin film or two-dimensional Langmuir Blodgett (LB) monolayer film. In our approach, films will be comprised of electroactive alkylated conducting polymeric materials, such as polyalkylpyrrole and polyalkylthiophene, that are derivatized with biotin. Steptavidin conjugated DNA will be attached directly or biotinylated DNA will be stably attached to this film via a bridging streptavidin protein. To date, the bulk of our work has centered on characterizing the DNA binding to thick films of conducting polymers. A near term aim is to incorporate this signal transduction system into fiber optic biosensors for specifically detecting nucleic acid analyte. Our ultimate aim is to create novel ordered structures possessing unique integrated intelligent functions which respond to their environment and provide signal transduction approaches via their electronic and optical functions.