Bionanotechnology is an emerging field in nanotechnology. In general, it uses concepts from chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology to identify components and processes for the construction of self-assembling materials and devices. Distant goals of the science of bionanotechnology range from developing programmable nanoscale devices that can sample or alter their environments to developi...

Ronnie G. Willaert 1,2,3,* 1 Research Group Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium 2 Alliance Research Group NanoMicrobiology (NAMI), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium—Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium 3 International Joint Research Group BioNanotechnology & NanoMedicine (NANO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel—Ecole Polytechnique de Lausa...

The creation of novel engineered multimodal nanoparticles (NPs) is a key focus in bionanotechnology and can lead to deep understanding of biological processes at the molecular level. Here, we present a multi-component system made of gold-coupled core-shell SPIONs, as a new nanoprobe with signal enhancement in surface Raman spectroscopy, due to its jagged-shaped gold shell coating.

The full capabilities of membrane proteins in bionanotechnology can only be realised through improvements in their reconstitution environments that combine biocompatibility to support function and durability for long term stability. We demonstrate that hybrid vesicles composed of natural phospholipids and synthetic diblock copolymers have the potential to achieve these criteria.

Archaeal plasma membranes appear to be extremely durable and almost impermeable to water and ions, in contrast to the membranes of Bacteria and Eucaryota. Additionally, they remain liquid within a temperature range of 0-100°C. These are the properties that have most likely determined the evolutionary fate of Archaea, and it may be possible for bionanotechnology to adopt these from nature. In th...

Continuous advances in the field of bionanotechnology, particularly in the areas of synthesis and functionalization of colloidal inorganic nanoparticles with novel physicochemical properties, allow the development of innovative and/or enhanced approaches for medical solutions. Many of the present and future applications of bionanotechnology rely on the ability of nanoparticles to efficiently in...