Protein-assisted self-assembly of multifunctional nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT: A bioengineering method for self-assembly of multifunctional superstructures with in-advance programmable properties has been proposed. The method employs two unique proteins, barnase and barstar, to rapidly join the structural components together directly in water solutions. The properties of the superstructures can be designed on demand by linking different agents of various sizes and chemical nature, designated for specific goals. As a proof of concept, colloidally stable trifunctional structures have been assembled by binding together magnetic particles, quantum dots, and antibodies using barnase and barstar. The assembly has demonstrated that the bonds between these proteins are strong enough to hold macroscopic (5 nm-3 microm) particles together. Specific interaction of such superstr

SUBMITTER: Nikitin MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2851910 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature