Dean Ho et al 2005 Nanotechnology 16 3120 doi:10.1088/0957-4484/16/12/066
Dean Ho1,2,3, Benjamin Chu1, Hyeseung Lee1, Evan K Brooks1, Karen Kuo1 and Carlo D Montemagno1,3
Show affiliationsThis work demonstrates the integration of the energy-transducing proteins bacteriorhodopsin (BR) from Halobacterium halobium and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides into block copolymeric vesicles towards the demonstration of coupled protein functionality. An ABA triblock copolymer-based biomimetic membrane possessing UV-curable acrylate endgroups was synthesized to serve as a robust matrix for protein reconstitution. BR-functionalized polymers were shown to generate light-driven transmembrane pH gradients while pH gradient-induced electron release was observed from COX-functionalized polymers. Cooperative behaviour observed from composite membrane functionalized by both proteins revealed the generation of microamp-range currents with no applied voltage. As such, it has been shown that the fruition of technologies based upon bio-functionalizing abiotic materials may contribute to the realization of high power density devices inspired by nature.
87.15.K- Molecular interactions; membrane-protein interactions
87.16.D- Membranes, bilayers, and vesicles
Soft matter, liquids and polymers
Issue 12 (December 2005)
Received 10 May 2005, in final form 8 September 2005
Published 11 November 2005
Dean Ho et al 2005 Nanotechnology 16 3120
Dean Ho et al 2004 Nanotechnology 15 1084
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