Probing Nano-Bio Interaction using Raman Spectroscopy*

With the COVID-19 pandemic, bio-nanotechnology has taken an increased role in the fight against the virus. A virus is made of proteins and RNA/DNA. Therefore, if the chemical bonds in RNA/DNA can be broken, then the virus can diminish. Nanoparticles of ZnO, CuO and NaCl have shown anti-bacterial properties based on studies using these molecules to disinfect surgical masks and gowns. They may have the ability to be an anti-viral disinfectant. Little is known about nanotechnology’s anti-viral properties, and this research project seeks the interaction between inorganic nanomaterials with RNA and DNA. Raman spectroscopy has been used to probe the nature of the chemical bonds of the individual biomolecules such as adenine, one of the four nucleotide bases of DNA. It will be interesting to see how the nature of bonding in adenine changes when it interacts with the inorganic nanomaterials ZnO, CuO, and NaCl. This data will help understand the nano-bio interaction at the molecular level. The comparison of adenine and nanomaterials incubated adenine should show if the chemical bonds in the biomolecule did indeed alter. The expected result is the bonds will alter and how the bonds alter is one aspect of this project.