Terminal supraparticle assemblies from similarly charged protein molecules and nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Uniformly sized hybrid colloids can be formed through self-assembly of proteins and inorganic nanoparticles.
• These hybrid particles offer utility, versatility, and multifunctionality comparable to other terminal assemblies.
• The self-assembly process is simple and amenable to theoretical design of structure and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the spontaneous formation of hybrid supraparticles using cadmium telluride nanoparticles and cytochrome C protein.
• To investigate the self-limiting behavior governing supraparticle formation.
• To explore the potential for designing and incorporating biological components into these hybrid assemblies.

Main Methods:

• Combining cadmium telluride nanoparticles with cytochrome C protein.
• Observing the self-assembly process and resulting supraparticle characteristics.
• Conducting simulations to predict and validate supraparticle diameters under varying conditions.
• Incorporating nitrate reductase into the supraparticles to demonstrate bionic functionality.

Main Results:

• Spontaneous formation of spherical supraparticles with a narrow size distribution was observed.
• Self-limiting behavior was attributed to a balance between electrostatic repulsion and non-covalent attractive interactions.
• Experimental supraparticle diameters matched simulation predictions across different assembly conditions.
• Successful incorporation of nitrate reductase demonstrated the potential for hybrid functionality.

Conclusions:

• Self-assembly of proteins and nanoparticles provides a viable route to uniformly sized hybrid colloids.
• The controlled self-assembly mechanism allows for design of structure and function in these hybrid materials.
• These hybrid supraparticles exhibit bionic properties, integrating nanoscale charge/exciton transport with enzymatic activity.