Structural-Functional Analysis of Engineered Protein-Nanoparticle Assemblies Using Graphene Microelectrodes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a graphene microelectrode technique for detailed structural and functional analysis of protein-nanoparticle assemblies, providing faster, more sensitive insights into nanoparticle accessibility and protein orientation than traditional methods.

Contribution

The study presents a novel application of graphene microelectrodes for analyzing protein-nanoparticle assemblies, enabling quantitative and high-sensitivity characterization of pore-mediated transport.

Findings

Differentiates accessibility of nanoparticles in open-pore and closed-pore ferritin.

Provides insights into spatial orientation of protein subunits.

Offers a faster, more sensitive alternative to conventional methods.

Abstract

The characterization of protein-nanoparticle assemblies in solution remains a challenge. We demonstrate a technique based on a graphene microelectrode for structural-functional analysis of model systems composed of nanoparticles enclosed in open-pore and closed-pore ferritin molecules. The method readily resolves the difference in accessibility of the enclosed nanoparticle for charge transfer and offers the prospect for quantitative analysis of pore-mediated transport shed light on the spatial orientation of the protein subunits on the nanoparticle surface, faster and with higher sensitivity than conventional catalysis methods.