Controlled spatial fabrication of metalloprotein nanostructures for bio-interfacing
Abstract
The transfer of electrons through protein complexes is central to cellular respiration. Exploiting this mechanism of charge transfer in a controllable fashion has the potential to revolutionize the integration of biological and electronic systems. In particular, conductive protein materials may enable direct interfacing of biological systems such as enzymes or living cells with electronic devices for biosensing, biocatalysis, and biocomputing. However, naturally occurring conductive proteins are difficult to customize, repurpose, and integrate with other materials. Advances in our ability to design proteins that self-assemble could be applied to create conductive nanostructures with tailorable electrical properties and specific interfaces for other materials. We recently describedthe fabrication of electronically conductive protein nanowires through the alignment of metalloproteins on ultrastable filaments. Furthermore, we have created a biomolecular construction kit that enables theassembly of protein nanostructures using engineered connector proteins for the precise positioning of functional molecules. Here, we propose to combine our protein engineering platforms tobuild metalloproteins nanowires with unique charge transfer behaviors and interfaceable termini for the controlled attachment of nanowires to electronic devices and biological systems.A variety of metalloproteins with different electronic behaviors will be spatially aligned on filaments to provide tunable control over nanowire conductivity. Moreover, the use of nanowire capping proteins for direct electrical connection of nanowires to electrodes will enable investigation of intra-protein charge transfer mechanisms in the nanowires. This evidence-based knowledge will create opportunities to use conductive protein scaffolds in the design of patterned materials for natural materials-based logic gates, biosensors, and optoelectronics. Furthermore, we will examine the ability of cappednanowires to interface and mediate charge transfer between enzymes and living cells to power bioelectronic devices or communicate and process information. We will collaborate with Dr Sarah Glaven (Naval Research Laboratory) to engineer a variety of microbes for specific and direct electrical connection with protein nanowires, and a crosslinked hydrogel version that should mimic biofilms whilebeing conductive. The project will also leverage existing collaborations with colleagues in the United States, including Prof. Allon Hochbaum (UC Irvine), Prof. Stuart Lindsay (Arizona State University), and Prof. Douglas Clark (UC Berkeley) to investigate intrinsic charge transfer within individual metalloprotein nanowires. The desired outcomes of this research effort include the creation ofmetalloprotein nanowires with tailorable electrical properties that can electronically connect with biological systems, which will serve as a foundation for building bioelectronic devices.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 05, 2021
- Source ID
- N629092112019
Entities
People
- Dominic J Glover
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of New South Wales