Measurement of changes in impedance of DNA nanowires due to radiation induced structural damage

The ability of DNA to conduct electric current has been the topic of numerous investigations over the past few decades. Those investigations indicate that this ability is dependent on the molecular structure of the DNA. Radiation-induced damages, which lead to an alteration of the molecular structur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The European physical journal. D, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Atomic, molecular, and optical physics, 2017-08, Vol.71 (8), p.1-6
Main Authors: Heimbach, Florian, Arndt, Alexander, Nettelbeck, Heidi, Langner, Frank, Giesen, Ulrich, Rabus, Hans, Sellner, Stefan, Toppari, Jussi, Shen, Boxuan, Woon Yong Baek
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternating current
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Electric currents
Electrical impedance
Genetic testing
Gold
Impedance
Molecular structure
Nanowires
Physics
Radiation damage
Radiation effects
Structural damage
Transport properties
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Summary:The ability of DNA to conduct electric current has been the topic of numerous investigations over the past few decades. Those investigations indicate that this ability is dependent on the molecular structure of the DNA. Radiation-induced damages, which lead to an alteration of the molecular structure, should therefore change the electrical impedance of a DNA molecule. In this paper, the damage due to ionising radiation is shown to have a direct effect on the electrical transport properties of DNA. Impedance measurements of DNA samples were carried out by an AC impedance spectrometer before, during and after irradiation. The samples comprised of DNA segments, which were immobilized between gold electrodes with a gap of 12 μm. The impedance of all DNA samples exhibited rising capacitive behaviour with increasing absorbed dose. Graphical abstract
ISSN:1434-6060
1434-6079
DOI:10.1140/epjd/e2017-70819-1