This project demonstrates the feasibility of staged nanostructures assembly for the manufacture of complex one-, two-and three-dimensional architectures with functional groups arranged in arbitrary, designed positions. The logic of the method is analogous to solid-phase polymer synthesis. In this case, the structure is assembled by sequential protein unit addition, one subunit at a time. By using protein units of well defined size, shape and stoichiometry, each of which may harbor a different designed functionality, construction of complex nanostructures with various potential utilities is possible. The system is based on proteins and protein constructs from the phage tail fibers of T-even bacteriophage. These proteins are: highly resilient physically and chemically; interact through very strong, non-covalent bonds; and amenable to re-engineering for the introduction of designed functionalities. The long term goal of the project is a comprehensive system for design and manufacture of polyfunctional nanostructures. There is a huge gap between the popular version of computer nanochips self-assembling by the billions from a solution of molecular components and the real, pragmatic problems of assembling complex nanodevices. The process described here is a practical implementation of nanostructure assembly that has the potential for fabrication of very low cost, complex devices and materials.
The proposed system will enable massive parallel manufacture of complex nanodevices which can be further self-assembled into higher order architectures in a hierarchic manner. Applications are in many fields in which the fabrication of smart materials from the molecular level-up are required. Some examples of potential commercial applications are in the technologies of separations, catalysis, microfluidics, light materials, non-linear optics, memory and circuitry.
