Self assembly of poly(o-methoxy aniline) with RNA and RNA/DNA hybrids: physical properties and conformational change of poly(o-methoxy aniline).

Biomolecular hybrids of a conducting polymer [poly(o-methoxy aniline) (POMA)] and RNA are prepared at the three different compositions by mixing aqueous solutions of diethyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, ammonium salt of RNA (type IX from Torula Yeast) and POMA (ES, emeraldine salt; doping level [Cl]/[N]=0.52). A slow increase of pH up to 30 h of aging occurs in the mixture till it levels up. The TEM micrographs indicate a fibrillar network structure in all the hybrid compositions (POMA: RNA=1:3, 1:1, 3:1, by weight). In the complexes three types of supramolecular interactions, viz. (i) electrostatic, (ii) H-bonding and (iii) pi-pi interactions, are evident from the FTIR spectroscopy. The CD spectra indicate a small distortion of A-RNA conformation towards its B form during the hybrid formation. Time and temperature dependent UV-vis spectral studies indicate a slow red shift of the pi-band to polaron band transition peak (lambda(max)) for the uncoiling of the POMA (P) chain on the RNA (R) surface. The repulsive interaction between the radical cations of POMA (ES) absorbed on the RNA surface is attributed to the conformational change causing the uncoiling of POMA chain. UV-vis spectral study indicates that the uncoiling and attachment of POMA on RNA surface is much faster than that on DNA (D). In POMA-RNA-DNA (PRD) hybrid solutions slower red shift of lambda(max) indicates more disordered array of the phosphate groups than that in PR and PD systems. The conductivity values of the PR hybrids (10(-)(6) S/cm(-1)) are three orders higher than that of RNA, rendering the PR hybrids to be useful for fabricating good biosensors. In the PRD hybrids conductivity decreases by two orders than those of PR and PD hybrids suggesting a disorder arrangement of POMA chains in the PRD hybrids. The I-V characteristic curves of the PR and PRD hybrids indicate a semiconducting nature of the hybrids.