Israel develops protein nanowires for biosensors

Tel Aviv announced Israel University researchers before the development of an amino acid called chain peptide molecules, can self assemble into a small cube, the cube can be made of nano silver filling line. The researchers say this is the first time to synthesize uniform nanowires that can ultimately lead to the use of silver nanowires in biosensors and circuits.

Department of chemistry the University Ehud Gazit of starch protein fiber aggregation in Alzheimer patients in the brain. This protein is also found in other parts of the body, can cause two types of diabetes and prion diseases.

His research team described the protein tiny part of the map, introduced the process of the formation of brain tumors. The researchers found that the element formed a few microns long hollow tube. Gazit believes that the nanowires will be used in molecular electronics and other nanotechnology applications.

Researchers plan to use peptide nanotubes, other conductors, semiconductors and magnetic materials made of nanorods and nanowires, and the tube is integrated into the nano electronic and nano photonic and microelectromechanical system. A future research focus is to evaluate the potential applications of such tubes as field emitters.