Counterion effects on nano-confined metal–drug–DNA complexes

Abstract

We have explored morphology of DNA molecules bound with Cu complexes of piroxicam (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) molecules under one-dimensional confinement of thin films and have studied the effect of counterions present in a buffer. X-ray reflectivity at and away from the Cu K absorption edge and atomic force microscopy studies reveal that confinement segregates the drug molecules preferentially in a top layer of the DNA film, and counterions enhance this segregation.

Keywords

• confinement
• metal–drug–DNA composites
• polyelectrolyte
• X-ray scattering