Mechanistic investigations of horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed degradation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Brett L. Allen, Gregg P. Kotchey, Yanan Chen, Naveena V.K. Yanamala, Judith Klein-Seetharaman, Valerian E. Kagan, Alexander Star

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

270 Scopus citations

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been investigated for a variety of applications including composite materials, electronics, and drug delivery. However, these applications may be compromised depending on the negative effects of SWNTs to living systems. While reports of toxicity induced by SWNTs vary, means to alleviate or quell these effects are in small abundance. We have reported recently the degradation of carboxylated SWNTs through enzymatic catalysis with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In this full Article, we investigated the degradation of both carboxylated and pristine SWNTs with HRP and compared these results with chemical degradation by hemin and FeCl 3. The interaction between pristine and carboxylated SWNTs with HRP was further studied by computer modeling, and the products of the enzymatic degradation were identified. By examining these factors with both pristine and carboxylated SWNTs through a variety of techniques including atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-vis-NIR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), degradation pathways were elucidated. It was observed that pristine SWNTs demonstrate no degradation with HRP incubation but display significant degradation when incubated with either hemin or FeCl3. Such data signify a heterolytic cleavage of H2O2 with HRP as pristine nanotubes do not degrade, whereas Fenton catalysis results in the homolytic cleavage of H 2O2 producing free radicals that oxidize pristine SWNTs. Product analysis shows complete degradation produces CO2 gas. Conversely, incomplete degradation results in the formation of different oxidized aromatic hydrocarbons.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)17194-17205
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume131
Issue number47
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2 2009
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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