Abstract
摘要 |
Cells are huge complex plants which consisted of countless nanodevices and nano-/micro-architectures. A remarkable profile of these cellular components is that formed by molecular self-assembly (MSA). MSA is a process in which molecules spontaneously form ordered aggregates. MSA is a potential powerful strategy for nanofabricating. Compared with the current technology, MSA in biology system do not need any human intervention which assembly information was contained in the materials themselves. Therefore, MSA technology could carry out many of the most difficult steps in nanofabrication.1
Self-assembling bio-macromolecules are attractive alternative natural nanomaterials for several reasons. Firstly, bio-macromolecules are natural nanomachines and nanoscale-architectural components that can be formed into numerous functional nanoscale-structures by natural self-assembly processes.2 MSA can be used to carry out many of the most difficult steps in nanofabrication. Secondly, bio-macromolecules are very diverse and fulfill a broad range of functions via highly-specific interactions. In addition, proteins are easy to manipulate via genetic methods. Together, these properties contribute to the great potential offered by protein-based nanostructures in nanotechnology.
There is substantial interest in the use of biosensing to detect pathogens or biomarkers for cancers and other diseases at ultralow levels. Recently, nanomaterials such as quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes and silicon nanowires have been widely used in biosensing and have substantially improved sensitivity. However, most of these materials require complex and expensive chemical modification before they can be applied in biosensors. For example, nanomaterials must be conjugated with antibodies and nucleic acids to capture target molecules. Compared with non-biological materials, biomaterials such as DNA and proteins offer great potential for use as scaffolds in the building of functional nanostructures while avoiding the need for chemical modifications.
Here, I will introduce three examples applied in biosensing which using the self-assembling of bio-macromolecules.
1, Protein nanowire biosensing.3
2, Red BiFC system for intracellular imaging.4
3, Viral components as biosensor carrier.5, 6
These examples will show that the self-assembly of bio-macromolecules has great potential in biosensing. The principles provide us with many opportunities for developing various functional nano structures for different purposes.
Reference
1. Whitesides, G.M., Grzybowski, B., 2002. Science 295(5564), 2418-2421.
2. Zhang, X.E., 2009. J. Biosci. Bioeng. 108, S2-S2.
3. Men, D., Guo, Y.C., Zhang, Z.P., Wei, H.P., Zhou, Y.F., Cui, Z.Q., Liang, X.S., Li, K., Leng, Y., You, X.Y., Zhang, X.E., 2009. Nano Lett. 9(6), 2246-2250.
4. Fan JY, Cui ZQ, Wei HP, Zhang ZP, Zhou YF, Wang YP, Zhang XE., 2008. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 367(1):47-53.
5. Guo YC, Zhou YF, Zhang XE, Zhang ZP, Qiao YM, Bi LJ, Wen JK, Liang MF, Zhang JB., 2006 Nucleic Acids Res. 8;34(8):e62.
6. Li F, Zhang ZP, Peng J, Cui ZQ, Pang DW, Li K, Wei HP, Zhou YF, Wen JK, Zhang XE., 2009 Small. 5(6):718-26. |
