Nanotubes have broad application prospects in the fields of biology, food, drug delivery, molecular separation, optics and electronics. In addition, synthetic protein nanotubes can be developed by mimicking the structure of natural nanotubes, such as protein channels. With its advanced protein engineering platform established over the years, Creative BioMart uses a wide range of different proteins and peptides to self-assemble or modify them through protein engineering to design protein nanotubes for molecular imaging biosensors, microelectronics, fuel cells and drug delivery systems. Our scientists are committed to providing fully customized protein-based nanotubes solutions to customers around the world.

Introduction of Protein-Based Nanotubes

Among the different morphologies observed in nanostructures, tubular nanostructures are of interest due to their long, low diameter and increased viscosity and gelling ability. The uniqueness of protein structures makes them suitable for applications in food and pharmaceuticals as promising alternatives to carbon and inorganic nanotubes. Protein nanotubes allow for the functionalisation of the outer and inner layers of the nanotubes, and due to the open ends and high stability of the encapsulated bioactive components, they are able to maintain their morphology in the in vivo environment for long periods of time, allowing for efficient delivery and controlled release. In addition, protein nanotubes have well-defined structures, assembly under physiologically relevant conditions and manipulation by protein engineering methods. Current examples of successful natural nanotubes include cytoskeletal microtubules, viral capsid proteins, water channel proteins and other membrane proteins. Researchers have also used pulsed electric fields to prepare ovalbumin nanotubes, edible polyelectrolyte composite nanotubes, and collagen nanotubes through a hierarchical assembly approach. Much progress has been made in the use of protein nanotubes for a variety of applications.

Fig 1. Food proteins are used as tools for forming nanostructures, especially nanotube shapes. (Katouzian I, et al., 2019)

Solutions

Producing nanotubes from scratch using proteins is challenging given the increased complexity due to the fully folded tertiary structure of proteins. Therefore, researchers look to systems found in nature as a starting point for developing biological nanostructures. Creative BioMart uses microbial systems (containing bacterial proteins, viral proteins, and eukaryotic system proteins), animal proteins, and self-assembled proteins to produce nanotubes with modified dimensions and desired chemical properties. In addition, our protein engineers use computer simulations to predict the structure of protein nanotubes and the formation of peptide nanotubes. In order to provide customized high-quality protein nanotubes to our customers worldwide, we have selected the following proteins to provide solutions for nanotubes, including but not limited to:

• Protein nanotubes based on bacterial systems
  Our protein engineers have protein engineered flagellin and bacteriophage proteins that can be used as biological scaffolds to generate metal nanowires for drug delivery.
• Virus-based protein nanotubes
  Viral capsids are formed from relatively simple protein building blocks, making them ideal for nanostructure production. Our protein engineers chemically and genetically manipulate viral capsids to meet the needs of a variety of applications in biomedicine, including cell imaging and vaccine production, as well as the development of light capture systems and photovoltaic devices.
• Protein nanotubes based on eukaryotic systems
  Protein polymers lacking a central lumen are interesting targets for the development of protein-based nanosystems. Our protein engineers have modified β-amyloid and related protofibrils to support the potential role of amyloid in protein scaffolds and nanotubes.

Advantages of Protein-Based Nanotubes

• Well-developed structures with different sizes at the nanometer scale.
• Three-dimensional nanostructures resolved at the atomic or near atomic scales.
• Cost efficiency in terms of production in grams or even higher quantities.
• Knowledge of genomic sequence enabling the modification of the composition and surface properties by using the recombinant technology.
• Genetic and chemical alterations can be employed to mould scaffolds with high accuracy computed theoretically.

Creative BioMart has in-depth knowledge and experience of the tools and processes involved in nanotubes development, and provides professional protein-based nanotubes solutions for the customers. Whether your protein-based nanotubes are in the discovery stages, or are planning engineered protein-based nanotubes production, please contact us to discuss further details to ensure your next success.

References

1. Audette G F, Yaseen A, Bragagnolo N, et al.. (2019) Protein nanotubes: from bionanotech towards medical applications[J]. Biomedicines. 7(2): 46.
2. Katouzian I, Jafari S M. (2019) Protein nanotubes as state-of-the-art nanocarriers: Synthesis methods, simulation and applications[J]. Journal of Controlled Release. 303: 302-318.

• Protein-Based Nanofibers
• Protein-Based Nanoparticles