Bacteriophage Bundles with Pre-Aligned Ca Initiate the Oriented Nucleation and Growth of Hydroxylapatite.

ABSTRACT: Inorganic ions may direct the self-assembly of biomacromolecules into nanostructures which can further be used as a reactant and matrix for nanomaterials synthesis and assembly. Here we use bone mineral and filamentous bacteriophage as a model to demonstrate this concept. Divalent calcium ions are found to trigger the electrostatic self-assembly of anionic nanofiber-like bacteriophages into bundle structures where calcium ions are pre-organized between bacteriophage nanofibers. The resultant Ca(2+)-bacteriophage bundles can be separated and purified from the aqueous solution. The nanostructures of the bundles are verified by zeta potential analysis, small angle x-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Because of the transcription of the bacteriophage chiral surface to the per

SUBMITTER: Wang F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2926989 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature