Preparation and Characterization of Desmopressin Peptide Attached Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube

Desmopressin, a synthetic analogue of vasopressin, has many applications in medicine including diabetes insipidus, night bedwetting, and hemophillia A. In this work, the attachment of desmopressin to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), functionalized by HNO3 and H2SO4 treatment was first used to remove the unwanted catalyst from MWCNTs and meanwhile introduced carboxylic acid groups onto the surface of MWCNTs. These carboxylic groups were then used as reaction sites for the attachment of desmopressin peptide to MWCNTs. The reagents used for the attachment were oxalyl chloride and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC). The Covalent attachment of desmopressin to functionalized MWCNTs was confirmed by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman scattering, and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM).