Biomolecular devices

The hydrogenase may be electrically wired with different semiconductors, metals and conducting materials as an electrode. This property of the enzyme is successfully used in design of different biomolecular device for renewable energy production and conversion systems based on molecular hydrogen as intermediate energy carrier. In many cases... 

Lyotropic lamellar (La) liquid crystals (LC), in a form of vesicle or planar membrane, are important for membrane research to elucidate both functional and structural aspects of membrane proteins. Membrane proteins so far investigated are receptors, substrate carriers, energy-transducting proteins, channels, and ion-motivated ATPases [1-11], The L liquid crystals have also been proved useful in the two-dimensional crystallization of membrane proteins[12, 13], in the fabrication of protein micro-arrays[14], and biomolecular devices[15]. Usefulness of an inverted cubic LC in the three-dimensional crystallization of membrane proteins has also been recognized[16]. 

Long-term aim of our project is the construction of a biomolecular device for hydrogen production in combination with light-driven water-splitting as it occurs in the natural process of photosynthesis in plants. Such a semiartificial device should combine the best suited components found in various native systems which - up to now - cannot be found in an individual native system due to incompatibilities and/or different origin (pro- and eukaryotic, meso- and thermophilic, aerobic - anaerobic environment). Advantage of such a system is... 

Wenk, S. O., D. J. Qian, T. Wakayama, C. Nakamura, N. Zorin, M. Rogner and J. Miyake (2002) Biomolecular device for photoinduced hydrogen production. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 27 1489-1493... 

Wenk, S., Qian, D., Wakayame, T., Nakamura, C., Zorin, N., Rogner, M., Miyake, J. (2002). Biomolecular device for photoinduced hydrogen production. Int.. Hydrogen Energy 27,1489-1493. 

The use of conventional materials or synthetic materials in the construction of devices based on design principles inspired by Nature will also be included in this chapter (biomimetic science). It will be demonstrated that prototype electronic devices constructed with biomaterials obey the same physical laws as do conventional devices. The problem of interfacing biomolecular devices with the outside world will also be addressed. Whenever appropriate, synthetic organic materials and biomaterials are treated as if there were no differences. 

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs) are integrated micromechanical and electronic parts on silicon or glass plates. They are produced by lithography technology. Various sensors, micromotors, biochips, chemical reactors, biomolecular devices, microfluid lanes, and so on, are produced by MEMSs. 

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