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A new method for creating nanofibers made of proteins, developed byresearchers at Polytechnic Institute of New York University(NYU-Poly), promises to greatly improve drug delivery methods forthe treatment of cancers , heart disorders and Alzheimer's disease , as well as aid in the regeneration of human tissue, bone andcartilage. In addition, applied differently, this same development could pointthe way to even tinier and more powerful microprocessors for futuregenerations of computers and consumer electronics devices. The details are spelled out in an article titled "Effects ofDivalent Metals on Nanoscopic Fiber Formation and Small MoleculeRecognition of Helical Proteins,"* which appears online in Advanced Functional Materials . Author Susheel K. Gunasekar, a doctoral student in NYU-Poly'sDepartment of Chemical and Biological Sciences, was the primaryresearcher, and is a student of co-author Jin Montclare, assistantprofessor and head of the department's Protein Engineering andMolecular Design Lab, where the underlying research was primarilyconducted. Also involved were co-authors Luona Anjia, a graduatestudent, and Professor Hiroshi Matsui, both of the Department ofChemistry and Biochemistry at Hunter College (The City Universityof New York), where secondary research was conducted. Yet all of this almost never emerged, says Professor Montclare, whoexplains that it was sheer "serendipity" - a chance observationmade by Gunasekar two years ago - that inspired the team's researchand led to its significant findings. During an experiment that involved studying certain cylinder-shapedproteins derived from cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP,found predominantly in human cartilage), Gunasekar noticed that inhigh concentrations, these alpha helical coiled-coil proteinsspontaneously came together and self-assembled into nanofibers. Itwas a surprising outcome, Montclare says, because COMP was notknown to form fibers at all. "We were really excited," she recalls."So we decided to do a series of experiments to see if we couldcontrol the fiber formation, and also control its binding to smallmolecules, which would be housed within the protein's cylinder." Of special interest were molecules of curcumin, an ingredient indietary supplements used to combat Alzheimer's disease, cancers andheart disorders. By adding a set of metal-recognizing amino acids to the coiled-coilprotein, the NYU-Poly team succeeded, finding that the nanofibersalter their shapes upon addition of metals such as zinc and nickelto the protein. Moreover, the addition of zinc fortified thenanofibers, enabling them to hold more curcumin, while the additionof nickel transformed the fibers into clumped mats, triggering therelease of the drug molecule. Next, Montclare says, the researchers plan to experiment withcreating scaffolds of nanofibers that can be used to induce theregeneration of bone and cartilage (via embedded vitamin D ) or human stem cells (via embedded vitamin A). Later, it may even be possible to apply this organic, protein-basedmethod for creating nanofibers to the world of computers andconsumer electronics, Montclare says - producing nanoscale goldthreads for use as circuits in computer chips by first creating thenanofibers and then guiding that metal to them. Ultimately, Montclare says, the researchers would like the fruitsof their discovery - such therapeutic nanofibers and metallicnanowires - to be adopted by pharmaceutical companies andmicroprocessor makers alike. Additional References Citations. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Ssangyong DVD Player , China Benz DVD GPS for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Audi Car DVD Player.
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