Description:
When
grown in vitro under various conditions, Geobacteraceae bacteria produce
conductive protein filaments known as microbial or pilus nanowires. These
microbial nanowires show promise for applications in nanoelectronics and
bio-electronics. Current methods for producing microbial nanowires are limited
by an inability to produce microbial nanowires in pure form, and the ohmic
behavior limits uses to applications that require symmetric conductance. This
excludes many nano-electronic and nano-medicine applications that require
asymmetric conductance (rectification) for nano-wire functionality.
Description
Michigan
State University’s invention demonstrates asymmetric conductance (i.e.,
rectifying behavior) of purified microbial nanowires. Asymmetric conductance is
an advance over the ohmic properties in other technologies. Ohmic resistance is
a measure of the degree to which a substance impedes the flow of electric
current induced by a voltage, with resistance measured in ohms. Good conductors,
such as copper, have low resistance while good insulators, such as rubber, have
high resistance. This technology has the future potential to expand the range of
applications of native and genetically engineered microbial nanowires in
nano-electronics and nanomedicine, where rectification is a requirement for
nano-electronic junctions.
The
invention demonstrates that the purified microbial nanowires have rectifying
behavior. The rectifying behavior of these purified nanowires is solely due to
the protein composition, structure, and any chemical modifications of the native
nanowires. Because of this, genetically engineered modification of these
nanowires is possible (i.e., the rectification properties, along with the
binding properties, of the nanowires could be customized for specific
applications).
Benefits
·
Asymmetric conductance: The
invention provides an alternative source (to semiconductors, polymers, and
carbon nanotubes) of rectification in nanowires. Asymmetric conductance
increases the range of potential applications for nanowire
technologies.
·
Customization: The potential to
modify and customize microbial, proteinaceous nanowires (i.e., create nanowires
from native or genetically engineered stock, with electronic properties suitable
for a particular application).
·
Biodegradable: The
biodegradable nature the microbial rectifiers and nanowires makes them desirable
for applications in nanomedicine.
·
In vitro assembly: Offers
potential to reduce cost of synthesis of microbial nanowires with customized
electronic properties.
·
Novelty of microbial production
of nanowires: The single-step production of nanowires by
biological means at high yield is more attractive than currently available
technologies.
Applications
This
technology provides an alternative to carbon nanotubes, semiconductors, and
polymers for nanowires as components in nano-electronics and
nano-biosensors.
IP Protection Status
Patent
pending
