Silver-Coated Biologically Active Protein Hybrids: Antimicrobial Applications

摘要

Novel hybrids, comprised of a biologically active protein molecule core, coated with a thin outer layer of porous metallic silver, were developed in our lab. By the conjugation of silver reducing polymer to the surface of soluble, molecular, biologically active protein molecules and subsequent addition of silver salt, electroless silver deposition, culminating in thin porous metallic coating, was directed to the surface of the protein molecules. The silver-protein hybrids thus obtained, presenting novel nano-particles several nanometers in size, retained their solubility and biological activity. The silver coating combined with the retained biological activity of its protein core, paved the way to a series of biomedical applications of these hybrids including "wiring" of the active site of oxido-reductase enzyme to electrodes, imaging of the presence of targeted ligands displayed on cancer cell surface and antimicrobial enzymatically attenuated release of silver ions. In this presentation we shall overview the technology of protein-silver hybrid's fabrication and analytical applications of silver-glucose oxidase and silver-Avidin hybrids, followed by feasibility demonstration of using silver-glucose oxidase hybrid as novel antibacterial and antifungal agent.