DNA Bonding to CVD Diamond Probed by Scanning Electron-, Fluorescence-, and Atomic force- Microscopy

Abstract

ABSTRACTDouble stranded desoxyribonucleic acid (ds-DNA) layers, bonded to hydrogen terminated polycrystalline diamond, are characterized by scanning electron (SEM), fluorescence (FM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). DNA grafting has been achieved using photochemical bonding of ω-unsaturated 10-amino-dec-1-ene molecules. SEM detects local variations of electron affinities on polycrystalline diamond, revealing distinct grain structures. FM applied on fluorescence labeled ds-DNA show laterally varying intensities of typically 20 %, which resembles also grain structure as detected by SEM. Contact and tapping mode AFM characterization reveal a tilted DNA bonding to diamond, dense layer formation which gives rise to smoothening of surface properties. The lateral density variation of DNA is attributed to local variations of the photo-electron emission efficiency which affects the photochemical attachment chemistry of amine linker molecules to diamond.