Carbon nanotubes and graphene are carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) which are no better than house dust for their commonly researched applications if they are not processed correctly. Following the vast majority of CNM synthesis methods, CNMs occur in undesirable, self-aggregated, nano-to-microscale particulates (the kind we don’t want to breath). Check this TEM of carbon nanotube bundles and this TEM of bundled graphene or more aptly graphite. Therefore, a common aim in CNM research is to process CNMs into an un-bundled, or exfoliated, state before further processing. To this end, research grade CNM dispersions are achieved with effective dispersing solvents or surfactants in combination with sonication (that jewely/gun/auto part water bath cleaner thing), high-velocity fluid shearing, ball milling or other form of mechanical agitation.
One interesting approach proven in the first journal publication that my name happened onto used a very small de novo protein, termed a peptide, only 29 amino acids (AAs) in length, to achieve effective nanotube dispersions. This approach has the following 3 distinct advantages for CNM dispersion processing:
- trillions (actually many, many fold greater than this!!) of AA combinations achievable through small, experimental AA sequences exist of which any one MIGHT turn out to be a “designer” (cough cough… irony) surfactent for highly effective CNM dispersion ($$$$$$ your grandchild’s grandchild gets space yacht $$$$$$)
- most peptides are water soluble and therefore avoid the use of eco-unfriendly organic solvents
- a biofunctional or structurally functional AA sequence can be appended to a CNM dispersing AA sequence for added functionality
The last piece of the puzzle, CRISPR gene editing methods and its related transfection methods, have flipped the genetics research world on its head in the last few years. Not only does CRISPR allow for effective and targeted gene editing, it is also extremely cheap in research terms and well-affordable in DMS terms. This place sells a kit for $130.
(This is the not-entirely vetted part)
Soooooo… certain genes responsible for coding peptides in bacteria cultures can be CRISPR’d to hell in automated, high-throughput multiwell plating processes that hobbiest standard CNC practitioners can make. Most mutations in certain peptide coding sequences will lead to very uninteresting results but a few will lead to structural and conformational energy changes in the targeted peptide leading to increased CNM dispersion efficacy. When you consider the statistics and if you abide by the law of very, very, very (understatement) large numbers, then IF a surfactant agent exists that can achieve commercially viable CNM dispersal requirements… well, CRISPR is betting on red, black, 0 and 00 while anything else is betting on the ball flying off the table.
These methods and knowledge are easily transferable to any DMS member wanting to learn. They’re also an example of how strategically chosen research venues can enable us with the means to upend ingrained notions of how and where scientific research can be performed. Did I mention $$$$$$? I’ll do a class on extracting DNA from grocery vegetables and using it to disperse nanotubes or something similar in the near future.