Phage display selected magnetite interacting Adhirons for shape controlled nanoparticle synthesis

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Protein Engineering

Background:

• Adhirons are peptide display scaffold proteins designed for specific molecular recognition.
• Traditional methods for producing cubic nanoparticles require high temperatures and harsh conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of Adhirons for material binding and controlling nanoscale material synthesis.
• To identify Adhirons that specifically interact with the [100] faces of cubic magnetite nanoparticles.
• To explore Adhirons as agents for controlling magnetite mineralization under ambient conditions.

Main Methods:

• Screening a phage library of Adhirons to identify proteins binding to [100] magnetite surfaces.
• Utilizing molecular dynamics simulations to understand amino acid adsorption onto magnetite surfaces.
• Conducting room temperature magnetite precipitation reactions in the presence of selected Adhirons.

Main Results:

• Identified Adhirons with a preference for basic residues, particularly lysine, for binding to [100] magnetite faces.
• Molecular dynamics simulations rationalized lysine's strong adsorption energy on magnetite surfaces.
• Adhirons directed magnetite nanoparticle formation towards a cubic morphology under ambient aqueous conditions.

Conclusions:

• Adhirons can be effectively used for material binding and controlling nanomaterial synthesis.
• Selected Adhirons act as novel mineralization control agents for cubic magnetite nanoparticles under ambient conditions.
• This approach using artificial protein scaffolds offers a versatile toolkit for nanomaterial fabrication.