Natural Nanofibres and nanowires
18 April 2007Collagen is one kind of heterogeneous protein found in our body and cells secrete it. It plays an important role in forming tissues such as bones, skin and tendons. It shows a particular viscoelastic mechanical behavior that allows it to make thin, long and mechanically resistant fibrils. Collagen also displays triple-helix fibrils structure that is 50-200 nm in length during post-translational modifications. At present it is widely used for cosmetic and medicinal applications.
Prion-like proteins are a group of special proteins, which are able to form fibrils under different physiological conditions. Prion is an infectious protein that consists of polypeptide chain of 254 amino acids in length. In infected cells, prions form nanofibrils during their lifecycle. The multiplication of prions takes place and during this process the fibril formation in infected brain tissue might destruct the neuronal network of brain and the result might disrupt in functioning of brain.
Some of the fibrils may have affinity towards metallic ion present in the body and this could develop conductive elements inside the brain, which can lead to severe disturbances in the conductivity system of the brain. There has been a significant finding in electrical conductivity of brain during Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have already tested protein fibrils and their compatibility with protein containing nanowire.
Aß peptides (small) have 40 to 42 amino acids. Researchers have found that the Xray analysis of peptides has shown that it form water filled nanotubes and these nanotubes are assembled by peptide like pieces. In actual self-assembling of peptide goes through different stages and the final stage is fibrillogenes, where ultimately fibres are produced. Researcher for making conductive fibres is examining the modification in peptide and protein.
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