Aqueous suspension of carbon nanotubes enhances the specificity of long PCR.

DNA manipulation technology is facing more challenges in the postgenomics era. More and more nanomaterials have been investigated for their potential implications in developing better gene technology. In this study, we reported the beneficial effect of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in enhancing the specificity and total efficiency of long (14 kb) PCR. Hydroxylic and carboxylic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) had similar enhancing effects. Nanotubes could become another component for improvements in the amplification of long DNA.