Protein Functionalised Carbon Nanotubes
Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes in 1991, there has been huge speculation of the applications they can be used for within the scientific community. Due to their small size and structure, made almost entirely of carbon, one such target for new research was in the biomedical field.
Proteins play crucial roles in virtually all biological processes. Their scope of activity includes among others, enzymatic catalysis (enzymes) and immune protection (antibodies). In particular, enzymes and antibodies can be used on their own in biomedical applications, such as in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease.
The meeting of carbon nanotubes with proteins allows for the creation of a large number of new devices and new applications, such as biosensors and drug delivery systems. The functionalisation of carbon nanotubes with specific proteins allows for the creation of new complexes with potential uses in biosensing and cancer therapy. A comparison is being made between three current different functionalisation methods to determine the efficiency of protein binding to carbon nanotubes. In addition to the known methods, a novel method is being developed using DNA and proteins to functionalise the nanotubes.
The most efficient method is then being used for attaching an enzyme to nanotubes that has a use as a specific catalyst for urea, a by-product of the kidneys and an indicator of kidney disease. The same method will be used to attach an antibody to nanotubes, which is able to target specific cancer cells and not those surrounding the diseased tissue.
A method for determining the amount of protein remaining on nanotubes has been established, which allows a calculation of the binding efficiency of the functionalisation method. The enzymatic activity of the enzyme being used has been investigated, although it has been found that the method being used is not sensitive enough for this project, due to the small protein concentrations being used. A novel functionalisation method has been devised and is currently being put into practice.