Nano and Proteins

What is a MALDI?
MALDI stands for Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization. The puropse of a MALDI is to analize biomolecules such as DNA or proteins. The machine analizes the protein by using mass spectrometry. The process first start off by aiming UV laser light on the matrix plate to create desorption on top of the matrix. From their, the matrix goes in a vacuum and the top layer on the matrix gets read by the detector.

(For more information on MALDI go to: http://www.maldi-msi.org/)


Different images of proteins:

Microcytin-LR

Collagen

Asparaginyl

(Images from http://www.pdb.org/pdb/home/home.do)
The sizes in lengh for each of the proteins are the following:
Microcystin-LR is 7 nm
Collagen is 30 nm
Asparaginyl is 294 nm

"Molecular capture with protein nanotechnology"

Advances in nanotechnology related to the use of proteins have shown protein nanotubes can be used as nanocaatalysts, bionanofilters, and nanocarriers of medication. As protein nanotubes can have different properties for the interior and exterior surfaces, they provide an advantage over nanospheres. So the exterior can be coated with a bio-friendly material and the inside of the nanotube can carry the medication to the desired locatin in the biological system. Another advantage of protein nanotubes are the longetivity in the blood stream is greater than current applications of drug delivery today.

For more information about this topic go to:
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=14281.php