Fabrication of coaxial metal nanocables using a self-assembled peptide nanotube scaffold

Nano Lett. 2006 Aug;6(8):1594-7. doi: 10.1021/nl060468l.

Abstract

The design and fabrication of complex nanostructures with specific geometry and composition is one of the main challenges of nanotechnology. Here we demonstrate the devise of metal-insulator-metal, trilayered, coaxial nanocables. Such coaxial geometry may give rise to useful and unique electromagnetic properties. We have fabricated these nanostructures using a scaffold of self-assembled peptide nanotubes. Gold nanoparticles were bound to the surface of peptide nanotubes via a common molecular recognition element that was included in various linker peptides. This enabled us to promote site-specific metal reduction and to create the coaxial nanostructure. Using electron microscopy, 1H NMR spectra, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, we monitored the different steps within the process, gaining further understanding of its mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Materials Testing
  • Metals / chemistry
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry
  • Multiprotein Complexes / ultrastructure
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes / ultrastructure*
  • Particle Size
  • Peptides / analysis
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Protein Binding
  • Silver / chemistry*

Substances

  • Metals
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Peptides
  • Silver