Peptide and protein-based nanotubes for nanobiotechnology.

The development of biologically relevant nanosystems such as biomolecular probes and sensors requires systems that effectively interface specific biochemical environments with abiotic architectures. The most widely studied nanomaterial, carbon nanotubes, has proven challenging in their adaptation for biomedical applications despite their numerous advantageous physical and electrochemical properties. On the other hand, development of bionanosystems through adaptation of existing biological systems has several advantages including their adaptability through modern recombinant DNA strategies. Indeed, the use of peptides, proteins and protein assemblies as nanotubes, scaffolds, and nanowires has shown much promise as a bottom-up approach to the development of novel bionanosystems. We highlight several unique peptide and protein systems that generate protein nanotubes (PNTs) that are being explored for the development of biosensors, probes, bionanowires, and drug delivery systems.