DATA: THE NEW CORPORATE RESOURCE - Carbon Nanotubes: From Bench Chemistry to Promising Biomedical Applications - page 7

DNA and RNA and proteins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA). 11 L-α-
Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), depicted in Fig. 1.4, is a major component
of oxidised low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). It is a signalling molecule
that occurs naturally in cell membranes and thus promotes even greater
biocompatibility of SWCNTs when associated with it.

H 2 C O OC

CHO H

O

CH 2 CH 3

CH 3
CH 3

CH 3 O

P O H 2

N +

O +

LPC 18:0

Figure 1.4 Structure of LPC 18:0. The numbers “18” and “0” in LPC 18:0, respectively,
denote the number of carbon atoms and double bonds in the fatty acyl chain.

As described previously, there are three main models that illustrate
the adsorption of surfactants onto CNTs. 19 Table 1.1 displays the schematic
representations of these models by which surfactants disperse SWCNTs.

Table 1.1 Schematic representations of the existing models illustrating surfactant
interaction with SWCNTs when forming stable dispersions a

The SWCNT is encapsulated in a
cylindrical surfactant micelle. In
this diagram, only a portion of the
CNT is shown as a curved surface.

1.

The surfactant molecules randomly
adsorb onto the CNT surface. The
CNT is represented by the grey
cylinder.

2.

Hemi-micelles of surfactant
molecules adsorb onto the CNT
surface.

3.

a Reproduced from Ke 12 with permission.