Sensitivity of Boron Nitride Nanotubes toward Biomolecules of Different Polarities

Abstract

The effect of molecular polarity on the interaction between a boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) and amino acids is investigated with density functional theory. Three representative amino acids, namely, tryptophane (Trp), a nonpolar aromatic amino acid, and asparatic acid (Asp) and argenine (Arg), both polar amino acids are considered for their interactions with BNNT. The polar molecules, Asp and Arg, exhibit relatively stronger binding with the tubular surface of BNNT. The binding between the polar amino acid molecules and BNNT is accompanied by a charge transfer, suggesting that stabilization of the bioconjugated complex is mainly governed by electrostatic interactions. The results show modulation of the BNNT band gap by Trp. Interestingly, no change in band gap of BNNT is seen for the polar molecules Asp and Arg. The predicted higher sensitivity of BNNTs compared to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) toward amino acid polarity suggests BNNTs to be a better substrate for protein immobilization than CNTs.