PAPER: Preparation, Single-Molecule Manipulation, and Energy Transfer Investigation of a Polyfluorene-graft-DNA polymer
Chem. Eur. J. 2017, 23, doi: 10.1002/chem.201702780
Madsen, M.,Christensen, R. S., Krissanaprasit, A., Bakke, M. R., Riber, C. F., Nielsen, K. S., Zelikin, A. N., Gothelf, K. V.
Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14,8000 Aarhus C (Denmark), E-mail: kvg@chem.au.dk
Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C(Denmark)
Present address: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina StateUniversity, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 (USA)
Abstract
Conjugated polymers have been intensively studied due to their unique optical and electronic properties combined with their physical flexibility and scalable bottom up synthesis. Although the bulk qualities of conjugated polymers have been extensively utilized in research and industry, the ability to handle and manipulate conjugated polymers at the nanoscale lacks significantly behind. Here, the toolbox for controlled manipulation of conjugated polymers was expanded through the synthesis of a polyfluorene-DNA graft-type polymer (poly(F-DNA)). The polymer possesses the characteristics associated with the conjugated polyfluorene backbone, but the protruding single-stranded DNA provides the material with an exceptional addressability. This study demonstrates controlled single-molecule patterning of poly(F-DNA), as well as energy transfer between two different polymer–DNA conjugates. Finally, highly efficient DNA-directed quenching of polyfluorene fluorescence was shown.