Single Chirality (6,4) Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Fluorescence Imaging with Silicon Detectors

Abstract

Postsynthetic single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) sorting methods such as density gradient ultracentrifugation, gel chromatography, and electrophoresis have all been inspired by established biochemistry separation techniques designed to separate subcellular components. Biochemistry separation techniques have been refined to the degree that parameters such as pH, salt concentration, and temperature are necessary for a successful separation, yet these conditions are only now being applied to SWCNT separation methodologies. Slight changes in pH produce radically different behaviors of SWCNTs inside a density gradient, allowing for the facile separation of ultrahigh purity (6,4) SWCNTs from as-synthesized carbon nanotubes. The (6,4) SWCNTs are novel fluorophores emitting below ≈900 nm and can be easily detected with conventional silicon-based charge-coupled device detectors without the need for specialized InGaAs cameras. The (6,4) SWCNTs are used to demonstrate their potential as a clinically relevant NIR-I fluorescence stain for the immunohistochemical staining of cells and cancer tissue sections displaying high endothelial growth factor receptor levels.

Exfoliated near infrared fluorescent silicate nanosheets for (bio)photonics

“…Instead of expensive (>40k €), liquid nitrogen-cooled, low-resolution InGaAs-based cameras, low-cost, (1k €) high-resolution, Si-based cameras can be used for detection. In the past, (6,4)-SWCNTs with smaller diameter that emit in the NIR-I region at 870 nm have been isolated exactly for this purpose 57 . Even though the quantum yields of Si-based cameras rapidly decrease in the NIR (around 5% >900 nm), they are still able to image EB-NS using a normal microscope or a lowcost stand-off detection device.…”

Nanoelectronic Discrimination of Nonmalignant and Malignant Cells Using Nanotube Field-Effect Transistors

“…8-10 The unique properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) continue to generate interest in biosensing applications. 11,12 Nanotube-based field-effect transistors (NTFETs) contain rich information on mechanism of response and are a useful method for fabricating sensitive and specific biosensors. 13-15 Herein, we present a sensor array approach to distinguish and categorize species based on the changes of the transfer characteristics of an array of metal nanoparticle-decorated NTFET devices.…”

Carbon Nanotubes in Biomedicine

“…The near-infrared radiation (NIR) absorption property of CNTs [152] can also be used to image their biodistribution in vivo. Yudasaka et al [153] covered SWCNTs with a biocompatible polymer, which accumulated in brown fat, providing an imaging tool to visualize the distribution of this tissue in a preclinical model.…”