S-Layers as Molecular Patterning Structures

Abstract

The functionalization of solid surfaces with ordered molecular protein layers offers new prospects for a number of advanced applications in the field of molecular nanotechnology, molecular (bio)electronics and biomimetics. In particular, the development of many new materials with greater complexity and functionality will strongly be based on the sophisticated properties of biological materials. Our work on the structure, chemistry, assembly and function of crystalline bacterial cell surface layers has shown that these structures have unsurpassed properties as immobilization matrices, molecular sieves and patterning structures in several applications of molecular nanotechnology [for reviews see 10,24]. S-layers are periodic proteinaceous structures with lattice constants in the nanometer range. In comparison to conventional approaches where microlithographic techniques are used to fabricate precise nanometric arrays S-layer lattices provide an intersting alternative as patterning structures at molecular resolution. This paper reviews our work on S-layers with special emphasis on their recrystallization at interfaces into monomolecular layers and their use as immobilization matrices for binding foreign molecules.