title: Molecular motor transport through hollow nanowires.
abstract: Biomolecular motors offer self-propelled, directed transport in designed microscale networks and can potentially replace pump-driven nanofluidics. However, in existing systems, transportation is limited to the two-dimensional plane. Here we demonstrate fully one-dimensional (1D) myosin-driven motion of fluorescent probes (actin filaments) through 80 nm wide, Al2O3 hollow nanowires of micrometer length. The motor-driven transport is orders of magnitude faster than would be possible by passive diffusion. The system represents a necessary element for advanced devices based on gliding assays, for example, in lab-on-a-chip systems with channel crossings and in pumpless nanosyringes. It may also serve as a scaffold for bottom-up assembly of muscle proteins into ordered contractile units, mimicking the muscle sarcomere.
authors.affiliation: Nanometer Structure Consortium (nmC@LU) and Solid State Physics, Lund University , Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mercy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lard
authors.forename: Lasse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: ten Siethoff
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Generosi
authors.forename: Alf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Månsson
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Linke
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009218:Myosins / Q000737:chemistry*; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009218:Myosins; D000537:Aluminum Oxide