Amyloid-directed assembly of nanostructures and functional devices for bionanoelectronics

Amyloids have the potential to serve as useful building blocks for functional materials and bionanoelectronic devices because they possess precisely assembled fibrillar structures, tunable functionalities, excellent mechanical properties, and ultrastability over a wide range of harsh conditions. These attributes endow amyloids with the ability to direct one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) patterning of nanoparticles and to serve as templates for controlled growth of nanowires, nanotubes and hybrid architectures. When coupled with conductive objects or functionalized with particular molecules, peptides or protein domains, amyloids could become active components of biosensors and devices relevant to energy applications. Before the full potential of amyloids in future bionanoelectronics can be realized, however, key engineering breakthroughs will be required.