Protein-Based Controllable Nanoarchitectonics for Desired Applications

Abstract

Controllable protein nanoarchitectonics refers to the process of manipulating and controlling the assembly of proteins at the nanoscale to achieve domain-limited and accurate spatial arrangement. In nature, many proteins undergo precise self-assembly with other structural domains to engage in synergistic physiological activities. Protein nanomaterials prepared through protein nanosizing have received considerable attention due to their excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity, modifiability, and versatility. This review focuses on the fundamental strategies used for controllable protein nanoarchitectinics, which include computational design, self-assembly induction, template introduction, complexation induction, chemical modification, and in vivo assembly. Precise controlling of the nanosizing process has enabled the creation of protein nanostructures with different dimensions, including 0D spherical oligomers, 1D nanowires, nanorings, and nanotubes, as well as 2D nanofilms, and 3D protein nanocages. The unique biological properties of proteins hold promise for diverse applications of these protein nanomaterials, including in biomedicine, the food industry, agriculture, biosensing, environmental protection, biocatalysis, and artificial light harvesting. Protein nanosizing is a powerful tool for developing biomaterials with advanced structures and functions.