[Preparation of Human Serum Albumin Micro/Nanotubes]

In this research, protein micro/nanotubes were fabricated by alternate layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of human serum albumin (HSA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) into polycarbonate (PC) membranes. The experimental conditions of pH values, ionic strength, the depositions cycles and the diameter of porous membrane were discussed. The morphology and composition of tubes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that pH and ionic strength of the solution are the key factors that influence the effect of assembly. Micro/nanotubes with good opening hollow tubular structure were obtained when pH 7.4 HSA solution and pH 10.3 PEI solution without NaCl were used in synthesis procedure. The outer diameter of tube was dependent on the PC template, thus the micro/nanotubes size was controlled by the wall thickness, which can be adjusted by the number of layers of the HSA and PEI deposited along the pore walls. To avoid the thin wall being damaged in dissolving the template and vacuum drying, the PEI/HSA bilayer number should not be less than 3. The polar solvent N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) can dissolve PC template to release the micro/nanotubes.