The application of bacterial S-layers in molecular nanotechnology

摘要

Crystalline bacterial-cell-surface-layer (S-layer) proteins can assemble into large-scale, coherent, two-dimensional arrays on solid supports, air-water interfaces and lipid films. S-layers can be patterned by deep ultraviolet radiation and, after reinforcement, used as high-resolution resists in silicon technology. S-layers might also be used as, for example, immobilization matrices for biologically functional molecules or templates in the formation of ordered arrays of nanoparticles, which are required for nanoelectronics and nonlinear optics. As an alternative to soft polymer cushions, S-layers can also be used as stabilizing and supporting structures for lipid membranes.