Protein nanofibres of defined morphology prepared from mixtures of crude crystallins. (6th February 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garvey, M.; Gras, S.L.; Meehan, S.; Meade, S.J.; Carver, J.A.; Gerrard, J.A.
• Is Part Of: International journal of nanotechnology. Volume 6:Number 3/4(2009)
• Page Start: 258
• Page End: 273
• Publication Date: 2009-02-06
• Subjects: amyloid fibrils -- protein nanofibres -- bovine crystallins -- WAXS -- TEM -- self assembly -- nanotechnology -- fibre morphologies; 620.505
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-7435

Abstract

Self assembling protein nanofibres have great potential within the nanotechnology industry. To realise this potential, nanofibres need to be manufactured on a commercial scale. To date, amyloid fibrils, a form of protein nanofibre with desirable bionanotechnological properties, have only been produced using expensive and time-costly, small-scale methods. This paper describes the production of protein nanofibres from semi-pure and crude mixtures of bovine crystallin proteins, currently a waste product in the meat industry. These nanofibres displayed amyloid fibril characteristics. Moreover, distinct fibre morphologies were observed dependent upon the formation conditions adopted. This research shows that amyloid fibrils can be inexpensively produced from crude crystallin protein mixtures, making them a potential industrial source for protein nanofibres.