Alpha-synuclein as a template for the synthesis of metallic nanowires

S Padalkar, Birck Nanotechnology Center and School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University
J Hulleman, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University
P Deb, Birck Nanotechnology Center, School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University
K Cunzeman, School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University
J C. Rochet, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University
E A. Stach, Birck Nanotechnology Center and School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University
L Stanciu, Birck Nanotechnology Center and School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University

Abstract

Exploiting the concepts learnt from nature to build new nanomaterials from the bottom up is critical for the efficient design of complex nanodevices. We demonstrate for the first time that the capacity of the alpha-synuclein protein to assemble into nanofibres can be used for the synthesis of metallic nanowires. Silver and platinum nanowires with controlled diameters, ranging from 15 to 125 nm, have been synthesized on an alpha-synuclein protein fibre scaffold.