Question

Describe what protein nanotechnology is. What are specific examples of protein assembly that can be used to form nanostructures? Provide at least two examples with basic principles.

Answer 1

Protein nanotechnology is an emerging field that is still defining itself. It embraces the intersection of protein science, which exists naturally at the nanoscale, and the burgeoning field of nanotechnology Nanotechnology involves the biological systems and/or directly incorporate biological macromolecules as intrinsic structural or functional components Virtually all of the functionality and interaction specificity of biological systems is manifest in the structure of macromolecules structurally organized at the nanoscale. These macromolecules include proteins and nucleic acids. Proteins in particular have evolved a huge diversity of structure and function, all the result of precision self-assembly at the nanoscale. For example: 1. silicon-based semiconductor fabrication technology 2. Use of AFM 3. Liquid phase techniques based on inverse micelles, sol gel processing, and chemical vapour deposition (CVD) 5 Molecular self-assembly use bottom up approach for Nano scale