Utilization of DNA-metal Ion Biomatrix as a Relative Humidity Sensor

Abstract

Recently, we prepared the novel biomatrix by the mixing of DNA and metal ion. These biomatrices have a metal ion property, such as oxidative and reducible effects, catalytic action, or the change of coordination number. So, we proposed the humidity sensor for the novel utilization of DNA-metal ion biomatrix. The biomatrix with the humidity property was prepared by the mixing of DNA and metal ion, such as cobalt (II) or nickel (II) ions. These matrices indicated the different color with the change of relative humidity (RH). Especially, the color of Co 2þ -containing biomatrix changed from blue to red with the increase of RH. These biomatrices may have a potential for the novel RH sensor with flexibility, low cost, nonhazardous, and environmentally benign.KEY WORDS: DNA / Biopolymers / Matrix / Humidity Sensor / Composites / DNA, one of the most important materials for the genetic process, can easily be purified from either salmon milts or shellfish gonads, which are generally discarded as industrial waste around the world. In addition, double-stranded DNA has highly specific functions, 1,2 such as the accumulation of intercalating compounds, the complementary interaction between nucleic acid bases, and the interaction with metal ions. Therefore, the double stranded DNA has been attracted for novel functional materials, such as adsorbents of harmful compounds, 3,4 electro-and ion-conductive materials, 5,6 and functional materials. [7][8][9] We could also convert the discarded DNA into a novel bio-matrix by the hybridization of DNA and metal ions.10 These DNA-metal ion matrices could be created in various desirable forms, such as a gel, capsule, film, or fiber.10 Additionally, DNA-metal ion biomatrix indicated the oxidative property.10 Metal ions have many functions, such as reductive effect, catalytic action, or the change of coordination number. Therefore, DNA-metal ion biomatrices might be used for various functional materials.Cobalt (II) and nickel (II) ions can indicate the different color by the change of coordination number with water molecules 11,12 and this property has been used for the silica gel with the moisture indicator. However, this material is rigid and non-flexible, as a result, the utilized-fields for the moisture indicator or humidity sensor have been limited. So, we propose the relative humidity (RH) sensor for the novel utilization of DNA-metal ion biomatrix that is flexible, non-hazardous, biodegradable, and environmentally benign. These RH sensors with the DNA are novel engineering material and have not been reported as far as we know.In this paper, we prepared DNA-metal ion biomatrix by the mixing of double-stranded DNA and metal ion, such as cobalt (II) and nickel (II) ions. This matrix had been constructed by the electrostatic interaction between the phosphate group of DNA and metal ion. This DNA-metal ion biomatrix indicated the color change with the RH. Additionally, these color changes is quickly and reversible. Furthermore, the similar phenomena were also obtained at the biomatrix co...

DNA−Cyclodextrin Composite Material for Environmental Applications

“…This shift to a lower wavenumber is due to the electrostatic interaction between the phosphate group and the positively charged molecule. Similar results have been reported as the electrostatic interaction of a heavy-metal ion and DNA 24 or artificial polymer with the imino group and DNA. 25,26 Additionally, the absorption band at 3100 cm -1 in pure PCD material, which is attributed to the stretching vibration of N-H, 23,27 was broadened and disappeared for the composite with DNA.…”

Humidity influenced capacitance and resistance of an Al/DNA/Al Schottky diode irradiated by alpha particles

“…A color transition from blue to red with change in the UV absorption due to the humidity effect was observed. This type of sensors are flexible, non-hazardous and cheap to fabricate 19 . In another work, Paul et al used DNA functionalized carbon nanotube (DFC) networks to develop a field effect transistor (FET)-based humidity sensor.…”