Hybrid devices protein

Niemeyer, C. M. Functional hybrid devices of proteins and inorganic nanoparticles. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 42, 5796-5800 (2003). 

The quest for purpose-designed biocatalysts relies on the rational redesign of natural biocatalysts and on evolutionary procedures to obtain novel catalysts. To rationally design biocatalysts requires knowledge of the connection between structure and function, for proteins as well as for ribozymes. The capabilities for manipulations of novel structures, organisms, bio-electronic hybrid devices will be targeted at process biocatalysts, novel therapeutic enzymes, specifically designed cellular machinery and metabolic networks. 

More recently, field-effect devices have been investigated for the detection of DNA hybridization and protein interactions. It is expected that a full understanding of the mechanisms involved will... 

The immobilizahon of biomolecules on sohd surfaces represents one of the most important problems in the field of bioelectronics and biosensing, where attempts are made to uhlize biomolecules as achve components to assemble novel hybrid devices [192]. In parhcular, the immobilization of enzymes and proteins under conditions that preserve their nahve structure has triggered considerable research efforts, with the layer-by-layer self-assembly method being one of the most promising techniques due to its simplicity, preciseness of layer thickness. 

A second example of a toxin that has been used as targeting device is tetanus toxin. Tetanus toxin is a potent neurotoxin, which can undergo uptake in the nerve endings of motor neurones and subsequent retrograde transport into the central nervous system. The nontoxic C-fragment of tetanus toxin (TTC,451 amino acids), has been used to increase the neuronal uptake of the therapeutic protein SOD [57]. Following intravenous infusion, the recombinant hybrid protein reduced the occurrence of ischaemia-induced cerebral infarction in rats [58]. 

Metallic nanoparticles and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) exhibit nanoscale dimensions comparable with the dimensions of redox proteins. This enables the construction of NP-enzyme or SWCNT-enzyme hybrids that combine the unique conductivity features of the nanoelements with the biocatalytic redox properties of the enzymes, to yield wired bioelectrocatalyts with large electrode surface areas. Indeed, substantial advances in nanobiotechnology were achieved by the integration of redox enzymes with nanoelements and the use of the hybrid systems in different bioelectronic devices.35... 

Electronic complexity reduction may provide an alternative method for sequence enrichment that is rapid, user-friendly and potentially quantitative. The device used in this experiment permits very high current densities and thus allows transport in buffers other than those typically used for electrophoresis. Beyond the use in complexity reduction, this device, with its ability to sustain high current densities, may have application in hybridization assays with a limited number of probes, immunoassays or other protein-binding reactions, and cell transport studies. Furthermore, the use of electrophoretic transport through all of the steps from sample processing through the assay should facilitate systems integration. 

---