ABSTRACT
Proteins can serve as useful building blocks for nanoelectronic implementations, among other reasons because of the ability to modify their structure using genetic engineering.13 Such manipulations enable optimization of the desired building block properties, such as self-assembly and selective attachment of various nanoparticles.14,15 One of the drawbacks
CONTENTS
1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................1 1.2 The SP1-GNP Hybrid ............................................................................................................2 1.3 SP1-GNP-DNA Tri-Block Conjugates ..................................................................................4 1.4 SP1-GNP Tubes .......................................................................................................................6 1.5 Summary .................................................................................................................................9 Acknowledgments ..........................................................................................................................9 References .........................................................................................................................................9
of proteins, however, is their sensitivity to different environmental conditions: temperature, pH, proteases, etc. A protein that is both durable and structurally diverse is of great interest. SP1 was reported to form highly ordered 2D arrays, selectively attach to different surfaces, and serve as a logic and memory unit based on its capability to attach a silicon nanoparticle (NP) to its pore.13,16,17 Here we show the use of the SP1 proteins as building blocks for future nanowires, based on their extreme stability and on their ability to connect gold nanoparticle (GNP) to their inner pores, followed by forming junctions between DNA strands or by self-assembly of nanotubes.18
