Modeling molecular conduction in DNA wires: Charge transfer theories and dissipative quantum transport

TL;DR

This paper reviews charge transfer theories and their application to understanding charge transport in DNA wires, emphasizing environmental effects and dissipative quantum transport models.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of charge transfer theories and explores their application to DNA molecular wires, highlighting environmental influences.

Findings

Environmental effects significantly influence DNA charge transport.

Dissipative quantum transport models help explain experimental variability.

Charge transfer theories can predict DNA conduction properties.

Abstract

Measurements of electron transfer rates as well as of charge transport characteristics in DNA produced a number of seemingly contradictory results, ranging from insulating behaviour to the suggestion that DNA is an efficient medium for charge transport. Among other factors, environmental effects appear to play a crucial role in determining the effectivity of charge propagation along the double helix. This chapter gives an overview over charge transfer theories and their implication for addressing the interaction of a molecular conductor with a dissipative environment. Further, we focus on possible applications of these approaches for charge transport through DNA-based molecular wires.