title: Aqueous solubilization of C60 fullerene by natural protein surfactants, latherin and ranaspumin-2.
abstract: C60 fullerene is not soluble in water and dispersion usually requires organic solvents, sonication or vigorous mechanical mixing. However, we show here that mixing of pristine C60 in water with natural surfactant proteins latherin and ranaspumin-2 (Rsn-2) at low concentrations yields stable aqueous dispersions with spectroscopic properties similar to those previously obtained by more vigorous methods. Particle sizes are significantly smaller than those achieved by mechanical dispersion alone, and concentrations are compatible with clusters approximating 1:1 protein:C60 stoichiometry. These proteins can also be adsorbed onto more intractable carbon nanotubes. This promises to be a convenient way to interface a range of hydrophobic nanoparticles and related materials with biological macromolecules, with potential to exploit the versatility of recombinant protein engineering in the development of nano-bio interface devices. It also has potential consequences for toxicological aspects of these and similar nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vance
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular, Cell & Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Vibhuti
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular, Cell & Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Brian O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular, Cell & Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK; Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Malcolm W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK. Electronic address: alan.cooper@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D029845:Amphibian Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006736:Horses; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D029845:Amphibian Proteins; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D037741:Fullerenes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011506:Proteins; D012997:Solvents; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C049912:latherin protein, Equus caballus; C000617978:ranaspumin-2 protein, Engystomops pustulosus; C069837:fullerene C60