Single-Walled Natural Protein Nanotubes Soluble in Polar Solvent

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nano-biotechnology has the ability to unravel nature's secrets, yielding a deeper understanding of how she effortlessly produces intricate structures from simple building blocks. Attempts are made to mimic the natural bottom-up fabrication with the aim of creating new and varied milk protein nanotubes structures with valuable uses. A novel design and synthesis of various α-lactalbumin protein nanotubes by chemical hydrolysis (sol-gel method) and biochemical enzymatic hydrolysis as fabricated. Using different organic surfactants (directing agents) as suitable templates in order to form various remarkable structures such as beaded protein nanotubes, Y-junction, bamboo-shaped, perpendicular and horizontal hollow, sweep-like network and interesting morphologies including nanoemulsions and green nanofluids for application in food and pharmaceutical industries is the essential goal of this research. Several surfactants (for example, nonionic acetylacetone [acac], citric acid, urea, triethanolamine [TEA...