Nanotechnology and membrane receptors: focus on angiotensin II receptors.
The use of a functionalized tip to measure the force of the interaction between ligands and receptors by atomic force microscopy has been discussed for more than a decade, and single-molecule recognition using a functionalized tip from processed samples is achievable now. Techniques for detecting and characterizing specific individual molecules from a living cell are still developing and are discussed in this article. Because many diseases have their roots at the molecular scale and are best understood as a malfunctioning of biologic nanomachines, these techniques should find widespread use in basic biomedical research once the remaining barriers are overcome.
Li
Guangyong
G
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 348 Benedum Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Xi
Ning
N
Wang
Donna H
DH
D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000737:chemistry*