Bio-recognitive photonics of a DNA-guided organic semiconductor

Abstract

Incorporation of duplex DNA with higher molecular weights has attracted attention for a new opportunity towards a better organic light-emitting diode (OLED) capability. However, biological recognition by OLED materials is yet to be addressed. In this study, specific oligomeric DNA–DNA recognition is successfully achieved by tri (8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminium (Alq3), an organic semiconductor. Alq3 rods crystallized with guidance from single-strand DNA molecules show, strikingly, a unique distribution of the DNA molecules with a shape of an ‘inverted' hourglass. The crystal's luminescent intensity is enhanced by 1.6-fold upon recognition of the perfect-matched target DNA sequence, but not in the case of a single-base mismatched one. The DNA–DNA recognition forming double-helix structure is identified to occur only in the rod's outer periphery. This study opens up new opportunities of Alq3, one of the most widely used OLED materials, enabling biological recognition.

Growth and Brilliant Photo-Emission of Crystalline Hexagonal Column of Alq3 Microwires

“…In Figure 5 , the XRD pattern of Alq 3 MRs showed 6.47°, 7.1° and 11.55° as related to typical α-phase peaks, in addition to δ-phase peaks at 6.78° and 7.38° [ 23 , 24 ]. The XRD results indicate that strong π-π interactions are operative along the b -axis ( b = 6.47 Å) of the Alq 3 molecules in the hexagonal column of Alq 3 MWs, which contributes to the very bright emission [ 25 , 26 ]. However, relatively weak XRD peaks were observed for the Alq 3 NPs, which have the same molar concentration as Alq 3 MWs—as shown in Figure 5 —indicating the poor crystalline structure of the Alq 3 NPs.…”

Physical Modeling of Activation Energy in Organic Semiconductor Devices based on Energy and Momentum Conservations

“…In recent years organic semiconductors have gained considerable interest in order to develop low-cost and large-area integrated flexible circuits 1 2 3 4 5 6 . Understanding of the fundamental physics of organic semiconductor devices such as light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), field-effect transistors (OFETs) and solar cells, accurate modeling of charge transport in these devices is prerequisites to optimize their performances and design organic circuits to realize flexible electronics.…”

Diverse Chiral Scaffolds from Diethynylspiranes: All‐Carbon Double Helices and Flexible Shape‐Persistent Macrocycles

“…Ever since the structure of DNA was uncovered, great effort has been devoted to the design and formation of artificial double‐helices to mimic nature . These fascinating chiral nanostructures constructed by the connection of the two helical fragments employing intermolecular interactions, or metals, or even by supramolecular confinement of chiral macrocycles, have been explored for photonics as well as asymmetric catalysis, and chiroptical sensing . Despite the appeal to investigate structural and chiroptical properties of all‐carbon double‐helical structures, where two helical fragments are interconnected by carbon atoms through covalent bonds, there are only limited examples of such assemblies .…”