Optical properties of single wall carbon nanotubes dispersed in biopolymers

In this paper we report the optical studies of single wall carbon nanotubes dispersed in biomaterials. We have obtained very stable suspensions of SWNTs, which allowed us to get good photoluminescence signal from the individually dispersed nanotubes. These new hybrid systems may find some applications in bionanocomposites with photoluminescence properties and in biosensors. Furthermore, the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in these biocompatible materials is important for evaluating the toxicity of either isolated or lightly bundled single wall carbon nanotubes. ► Stable suspensions of individual single wall carbon nanotubes were obtained using biopolymers. ► Photoluminescence from semiconducting nanotubes dispersed in different biolpolymers. ► The emission energy dependence on different wrapping media was attributed to excitonic effects. ► Carbon nanotubes suspended in biocompatible materials is important for toxicity studies.