Bionanostructures.html
From 2009.igem.org
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- | <td><b> | + | <td><b></b></td> |
- | <td><b> | + | <td><b>NUCLEIC ACIDS</b></td> |
- | <td><b> | + | <td><b>POLYPEPTIDES</b></td> |
- | <td><b> | + | <td><b>POLYSACCHARIDES</b></td> |
+ | <td><b>LIPIDS</b></td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
- | <td> | + | <td><b>stability</b></td> |
- | <td> | + | <td>+</td> |
- | <td> | + | <td>++</td> |
- | <td> | + | <td>+++</td> |
+ | <td>+</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td><b>functional versatility</b></td> | ||
+ | <td>+</td> | ||
+ | <td>+++</td> | ||
+ | <td>+</td> | ||
+ | <td>+</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td><b>structural | ||
+ | versatility</b></td> | ||
+ | <td>++</td> | ||
+ | <td>+++</td> | ||
+ | <td>+</td> | ||
+ | <td>+</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td><b>ease of manipulation</b></td> | ||
+ | <td>+++</td> | ||
+ | <td>++</td> | ||
+ | <td>-</td> | ||
+ | <td>-</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td><b>use as structural<br> materials in nature</b></td> | ||
+ | <td>-</td> | ||
+ | <td>+++</td> | ||
+ | <td>+++</td> | ||
+ | <td>+</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
</table> | </table> |
Revision as of 22:00, 21 October 2009
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Self-assembled bionanostructures
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Table 1: Characteristics of biological molecules as nanostructure building blocks Therefore biological systems offer many different molecules (peptides, nucleic acids, polysaccharides) that can be used to form bionanostructures / bionanomaterials. By the regulation of assembly of these components, the smart bionanomaterials are only a step away. Polysaccharides, such as cellulose represent the majority of biomass, however nucleic acids are the most easy to modify and synthesize. Polypeptides seem to represent the best balance of structural and functional versatility, and allow ample possibility of modifications so it is no wonder that most of the natural nanomachines and also dynamic structural elements are made of polypeptides. Potentials of self-assembled bionanostructures are almost limitless. In fact we are limited mainly by our knowledge and imagination. We can take the structural paradigms from nature but on the other hand we can only use the cell factory to produce nanomaterials that have structure and properties unlike any structures existing in nature. It is in this field that we can have the most productive synthesis of engineering and biological philosophy. |