In Aqua Structuralization of a Three-Dimensional Configuration Using Biomolecules

Ferritin nanoparticles ornamented with a Ti-binding peptide are versatile nanoscaled building blocks. Their specific binding ability is strong enough to position them on nanopatterned Ti regions on a Pt substrate. Furthermore, the peptides mineralization activity enables the formation of titania on the outer side of the particle, and the particle's inner nanospaces can serve as a carrier for inorganic nanodots. Making use of all these properties, here we show controlled in aqua fabrication of three-dimensional nanoscale structures. The X-Y positioning obeyed the specific binding of the peptide, while fabrication in the Z-dimension entailed stepwise formation of titania and ferritin layers by alternately applying the binding and mineralization abilities of the Ti-binding peptide. This method paves the way for in aqua fabrication of nanodevices having complicated structures and functions.