Low-dimensional hybrid organic–inorganic nanostructures via planar DNA–amphiphilic polycation complexes

New nanoscale organized planar complexes of DNA and amphiphilic polycation on the surfaces of solid substrates were obtained via the formation of Langmuir monolayer at the gas–aqueous phase interface composed by water-insoluble amphiphilic polycation poly(4-vinylpyridine) with 16% cetylpyridinium groups, then binding of DNA molecules from the aqueous phase with the amphiphilic polycation monolayer, and, finally, deposition of the planar complex structure. Those monolayer and multilayer DNA/polycation complex Langmuir–Blodgett films were used as nanotemplates and nanoreactors for synthesis of inorganic nanostructures. The obtained nanostructures were characterized by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy techniques. As a result, ultrathin planar polymeric nanocomposite films with integrated DNA molecules and organized inorganic semiconductor CdS and iron oxide nanoparticle quasi-linear arrays were formed successfully.