Strategy for the assembly of carbon nanotube-metal nanoparticle hybrids using biointerfaces

Utilizing peptide-anchored DNA templates for novel programmable nanoparticle assemblies in biological macromolecules: A review

Biological macromolecules such as proteins and DNA are known to self-assemble into various structural moieties with distinct functions. While nucleic acids are the structural building blocks, peptides exemplify diversity as tailorable biochemical units. Thus, combining the scaffold properties of the biomacromolecule DNA and the functionality of peptides could evolve into a powerful method to obtain tailorable nano assemblies. In this review, we discuss the assembly of non-DNA-coated colloidal NPs on DNA/peptide templates using functional anchors. We begin with strategies for directly attaching metallic NPs to DNA templates to ascertain the functional role of DNA as a scaffold. Followed by methods to assemble peptides onto DNA templates to emphasize the functional versatility of biologically abundant DNA-binding peptides. Next, we focus on studies corroborating peptide self-assembling into macromolecular templates onto which NPs can attach to emphasize the properties of NP-binding peptides. Finally, we discuss the assembly of NPs on a DNA template with a focus on the bifunctional DNA-binding peptides with NP-binding affinity (peptide anchors). This review aims to highlight the immense potential of combining the functional power of DNA scaffolds and tailorable functionalities of peptides for NP assembly and the need to utilize them effectively to obtain tailorable hierarchical NP assemblies.

Geometrical assembly of ultrastable protein templates for nanomaterials

The fabrication of nanoscale devices requires architectural templates on which to position functional molecules in complex arrangements. Protein scaffolds are particularly promising templates for nanomaterials due to inherent molecular recognition and self-assembly capabilities combined with genetically encoded functionalities. However, difficulties in engineering protein quaternary structure into stable and well-ordered shapes have hampered progress. Here we report the development of an ultrastable biomolecular construction kit for the assembly of filamentous proteins into geometrically defined templates of controllable size and symmetry. The strategy combines redesign of protein–protein interaction specificity with the creation of tunable connector proteins that govern the assembly and projection angles of the filaments. The functionality of these nanoarchitectures is illustrated by incorporation of nanoparticles at specific locations and orientations to create hybrid materials such as conductive nanowires. These new structural components facilitate the manufacturing of nanomaterials with diverse shapes and functional properties over a wide range of processing conditions.

Protein nanotechnology for the fabrication of protein-based nanoscale devices is gaining momentum but assembling well-defined three-dimensional shapes is still challenging. Here, the authors use an existing prefoldin assembled system to design a template for the construction of geometrically constrained structures.

Gold nanoparticle-ultrananocrystalline diamond hybrid structured materials for high-performance optoelectronic device applications

Hybridization of gold nanoparticles in the ultrananocrystalline diamond materials improves the electrical conductivity of the materials to a high level of 230 (Ω cm)(-1) with a sheet carrier concentration of 8.9 × 10(20) cm(-2). These hybrid materials show enhanced electron field emission (EFE) properties, viz. a low turn-on field of 2.1 V μm(-1) with a high EFE current density of 5.3 mA cm(-2) (at an applied field of 4.9 V μm(-1)) and the life-time stability up to a period of 372 min. The fabrication of these hybrid materials with high conductivity and superior EFE behaviors is a direct and simple process which opens new prospects in flat panel displays and high brightness electron sources.

DNA polymorphism sensitive impedimetric detection on gold-nanoislands modified electrodes

Nanocomposite materials are being increasingly used in biosensing applications as they can significantly improve biosensor performance. Here we report the use of a novel impedimetric genosensor based on gold nanoparticles graphite-epoxy nanocomposite (nanoAu-GEC) for the detection of triple base mutation deletion in a cystic-fibrosis (CF) related human DNA sequence. The developed platform consists of chemisorbing gold nano-islands surrounded by rigid, non-chemisorbing, and conducting graphite-epoxy composite. The ratio of the gold nanoparticles in the composite was carefully optimized by electrochemical and microscopy studies. Such platform allows the very fast and stable thiol immobilization of DNA probes on the gold islands, thus minimizing the steric and electrostatic repulsion among the DNA probes and improving the detection of DNA polymorphism down to 2.25fmol by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. These findings are very important in order to develop new and renewable platforms to be used in point-of-care devices for the detection of biomolecules.

Engineered peptides for nanohybrid assemblies

Inspired by biological material synthesis, synthetic biomineralization peptides have been screened through a laboratory evolution using biocombinatorial techniques. In this study, using the fine examples in nature, silica binding peptides and gold binding peptides were fused together to form a hybrid peptide. We designed fusion peptides with different gold binding and silica binding parts. First, we have tested the binding capability of the fusion peptides using quartz crystal microbalance on gold surface and silica surface. Second, S1G1 hybrid peptide enabled assembly of gold nanoparticles on a silica surface was achieved. Finally, nanomaterial synthesis ability of the S1G1 peptide was presented by the formation of a silica film on a gold surface. In this study, we are presenting a hybrid peptide tool for nanohybrid assembly as a promising route for nanotechnology applications.

Determining peptide sequence effects that control the size, structure, and function of nanoparticles

The ability to tune the size, shape, and composition of nanomaterials at length scales <10 nm remains a challenging task. Such capabilities are required to fully realize the application of nanotechnology for catalysis, energy storage, and biomedical technologies. Conversely, nature employs biomacromolecules such as proteins and peptides as highly specific nanoparticle ligands that demonstrate exacting precision over the particle morphology through controlling the biotic/abiotic interface. Here we demonstrate the ability to finely tune the size, surface structure, and functionality of single-crystal Pd nanoparticles between 2 and 3 nm using materials directing peptides. This was achieved by selectively altering the peptide sequence to change the binding motif, which in turn modifies the surface structure of the particles. The materials were fully characterized before and after reduction using atomically resolved spectroscopic and microscopic analyses, which indicated that the coordination environment prior to reduction significantly affects the structure of the final nanoparticles. Additionally, changes to the particle surface structure, as a function of peptide sequence, can allow for chloride ion coordination that alters the catalytic abilities of the materials for the C-C coupling Stille reaction. These results suggest that peptide-based approaches may be able to achieve control over the structure/function relationship of nanomaterials where the peptide sequence could be used to selectivity tune such capabilities.