Potential for differentiating enzymes based on time-dependence of photoluminescence recovery rate of oxidized DNA-sWNTs

Abstract Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) exhibit chirality-dependent near-infrared photoluminescence (PL) sensitive to their chemical environment. We investigated time-dependent PL responses of DNA-dispersed SWNTs upon the addition of 4 enzymes with distinct properties. Proteolytic enzymes with free cysteine residues (bromelain and ficin) and carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes containing only disulfide-bonded cysteines (lysozyme and α-amylase) showed different temporal PL behaviors. The results indicate enzyme- and chirality-dependent PL modulation, demonstrating the potential of SWNT PL dynamics for differentiating enzyme properties.