Engineering Protein and Peptide Building Blocks for Nanotechnology
The tremendous diversity in the structure and function of proteins has stimulated intense interest in using them for nanotechnology applications. In this review, we discuss recent developments in the engineering of proteins and peptides for the design and construction of functional
and structural elements of nanodevices. We begin with a short discussion highlighting the differences between chemical and biological synthesis of proteins and peptides. Subsequently, we review recent applications of proteins and peptides as molecular motors, transducers, biosensors, and structural
elements of nanodevices. We supplement this review with highlights of our own work in the areas of peptide-based transducers for stand-alone and intra-molecular applications. This is followed by a short discussion of nanotechnology safety issues, and how proteins and peptides may enable the
development of biocompatible nanomaterials. The future outlook for protein and peptide-based nanomaterials is then discussed, with an eye toward the significant impact of improved computational techniques on the field.
Keywords: BIOSENSORS; MOLECULAR MOTORS; NANOTECHNOLOGY; PEPTIDES; PROTEIN ENGINEERING; PROTEINS; TRANSDUCERS
Document Type: Review Article
Publication date: 01 February 2007
- Journal for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (JNN) is an international and multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal with a wide-ranging coverage, consolidating research activities in all areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology into a single and unique reference source. JNN is the first cross-disciplinary journal to publish original full research articles, rapid communications of important new scientific and technological findings, timely state-of-the-art reviews with author's photo and short biography, and current research news encompassing the fundamental and applied research in all disciplines of science, engineering and medicine.
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