Biomolecule - Nanomaterial surface interactions

According to the researcher Knecht of University of Kentucky, bio macromolecules represent new structures employed for the fabrication, assembly, and subsequent use of nanomaterials for a variety of applications. By genetically selecting for the binding abilities of these bio-based molecules, the generation of materials with enhanced and environmentally sound properties is possible. Unfortunately, the level of understanding as to how the biomolecules bind and arrange on the nanomaterial surface is incomplete. Recent experimental and theoretical results suggest that the binding is dependent upon the peptide composition, sequence, and structure.

Biomolecules are employed as active surface species for nanomaterials manufacture. For example citrate-capped Au nanoparticles in solution using simple amino acids give incomplete surface ligand exchange between citrate and Arg. This results in the self-segregation of the two species to produce an electronic dipole across the surface. As a result, linear assembly of the Au nanoparticles occurs which is dependent upon the Arg concentration.
Bionanocatalysts
Green and energy efficient catalytic materials development is gaining researchers attention. Biomolecule based nanomaterials have some unique properties owing to their peptide surface passivants, which can be optimized under ambient and biological-based conditions. Nanocatalysts using a Pd specific peptide have been developed to operate in water at room temperature, that emply 0.005 mol% Pd for quantitative yields for Stille coupling. The peptide-based nanocatalysts serve as unique material for understanding the reactive designs for the generation of enhanced catalytic species.
Researchers of University of Kentucky are doing work in this area. Their interest in Au nanorods focuses on its use as starting components for the generation of higher ordered assembled materials. Au nanorods possess an intrinsic bifurcated plasmon absorbance. This presents a unique optical handle that can be directly tuned based upon the assembly state of the individual materials. This makes the formation of nanochains to shift the longitudinal plasmon resonance further into the near-IR. Biomolecules such as amino acids are employed to direct the assembly process.