Polymers are versatile tools to functionalize nanomaterials for modulation of their electronic and optical properties. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are emerging molecular imaging probes and biosensors owing to their unique photophysical, thermal, and electrical properties. Surface chemistry plays a crucial role in modulating such properties of nanotubes for their useful applications. In this talk, I will discuss on the rational design and synthesis of helical polycarbodiimides to stably and non-covalently encapsulate carbon nanotubes and modulate their properties. We showed that the polymer-cloaking of the nanotubes exhibited the unprecedented control over nanotube optical properties, surface potential, and interaction with biomolecules enabling development of new molecular imaging probes and optical biosensors. I will also discuss on polymer chemistry that facilitated nanosensor delivery into the nucleus in cancer cells.

Polymer-functionalized carbon nanotubes as optical probes

256th National Meeting (2018)

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