Nanofibrous bio-inorganic hybrid structures formed through self-assembly and oriented mineralization of genetically engineered phage nanofibers

摘要

Filamentous M13 phage is genetically engineered to become anionic by fusing a negatively charged peptide to its major coat protein (pVIII). The cationic precursors of hydroxylapatite (HAP) such as Ca~(2+) ions induce the self-assembly of the negatively charged phage into a nanofibrous structure in the presence of anionic precursors such as PO_4~3 ions. The cationic and anionic precursors are accumulated within the nanofibrous structure, leading to the formation of oriented nanocrystalline HAP.