Researchers Develop Novel Technique for Producing Nanofibers from Proteins
- Cameron Chai for Azom.com March 2nd, 2012
- Source: http://www.azom.com/news.aspx?newsID=32179
A research team at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) has discovered a novel technique for producing nanofibers from proteins, paving the way to advance drug delivery systems for treating Alzheimer's disease, heart disorders and cancers, and help in the recreation of human cartilage, bone and tissue.
Primary research was conducted in the lab, while secondary research was carried out at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Hunter College. Other researchers involved in the study were Luona Anjia and Professor Hiroshi Matsui. During a study on some cylinder-shaped proteins obtained from cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), Gunasekar discovered that high concentrations of these alpha helical coiled-coil proteins instinctively teamed up and self-assembled to form nanofibers.
