"Defect states study and surface patching in ZnO nanoparticles via nano-bio interaction with DNA bases"

The interaction between engineered nanostructures and biomolecules experiences in the improvement of advanced types of biosensors and biomolecular targets. Bio physiochemical reactions take place at the interface between inorganic nanostructures and biomolecules. Highly Raman and PL active nanostructures of ZnO and DNA bases are chosen for the investigation of nano-bio interaction. ZnO nanostructures with varying annealing temperatures are synthesized using the hydrothermal method. The molecular level interaction at the interface has been investigated by using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, Photoluminescence (PL), and SEM. A visible green emission in the PL, mainly associated with the oxygen vacancies on the surface of the ZnO nanostructure area (4.6x10⁷ cm² to 7.6x10⁵ cm²) is significantly reduced by the incorporation of DNA bases. Notable reduction of peak area and relative peak position of some of the cytosine (from 3061.995 cm^-1 to 3109.93 cm^-1) and thymine (from 420.71 cm^-1 to 432.15 cm^-1 at 400^oC and 476.99 cm^-1 at 500^oC) and ZnO nanostructures in Raman spectra is referred to the direct binding energy between these two nano- and bio-components. This study will allow us to make more insightful decisions regarding the interaction kinetics in structurally related nano-bio junctions.