title: Fabrication of lipid tubules with embedded quantum dots by membrane tubulation protein.
abstract: The first one-dimensional (1D) assembly of low-toxicity CuInS(2) /ZnS quantum dots (QDs) embedded in lipid nanotubules, formed from liposomes using the Amphiphysin-BAR (Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs domain of human amphiphysin) protein to elongate the structure, is reported. The QD-containing lipid nanotubules display a high aspect ratio of ≈500:1 (≈40 nm diameter and 20 μm length) and are stable for more than 20 h. Furthermore, this methodology is extended to the assembly of various nanoparticle species within 1D lipid nanotubules, and includes materials such as CdSe and Au. Encapsulation within the hydrophobic core of the bilayer makes these materials highly biocompatible. The developed methodology and materials with these unique characteristics could be useful for various applications in nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. m.tanaka@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Critchley
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Sarah S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Staniland
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000379:methods*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008055:Lipids; D008081:Liposomes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C075637:amphiphysin; C031238:zinc sulfide