Engineering nanoparticles to self-associate with biomolecules offers a new approach to nucleate protein crystals and create three-dimensional arrangements of nanomaterials. Through adjustment to the polymer molecular weight on a nanoparticle surface the hydrodynamic radius, stability in buffers and interaction with nearby proteins are altered. Large molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) coatings allow for weak associations between proteins, leading to changes in protein crystallization. In particular, they decrease the time to nucleation, expand the range of conditions for crystal formation and incorporate into the crystal. Composite crystals on the microscopic scale exhibit optical absorbance, fluorescence and super paramagnetic behavior derivative from the incorporated nanomaterials. The arrangement of nanoparticles into three dimensional arrays gives rise to new and interesting properties, such as fluorescence enhancement and varied magnetic response. Application of these results could improve crystallization of traditionally difficult proteins and provide a new matrix to study three dimensional nanoparticle arrays.

Engineering nanoparticle surfaces for biomolecule conjugation used for protein crystal nucleation and nanoparticle arrangement

245th National Meeting (2013)

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