Engineering Protein-Nanomaterial Hybrids for the Development of Innovative Bionanotools in Biomedical Applications.

Abstract

Repeat proteins are natural biopolymers that have been widely studied in the development of new nanotechnological tools. The simplicity of their sequences and the robustness of their structures allow the development of versatile and adaptable scaffolds for a number of functions. In addition, the generation of protein-nanomaterial hybrids raises the possibilities to a new level that has only just begun to be explored. In the present review we have updated some of the advances made in the field, particularly with CTPR repeat proteins, and described by means of examples the potential of these systems in various technological and biomedical applications.