Binding of nanoparticle receptors to peptide alpha-helices using amino acid-functionalized nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles provide large surface areas and controlled surface functionality and structure, making them excellent scaffolds for peptide recognition. A family of nanoparticles has been fabricated by amino acid functionalization to afford tailored surfaces. These particles are complementary to a tetraaspartate peptide (TAP) featuring cofacial anionic functionality when in the alpha-helical conformation.

Nanoparticles featuring amino acid-functionalized side chains as DNA receptors.

A family of nanoparticles has been fabricated featuring cationic amino acid-based side chains. This controlled surface modification provides a tool to investigate the effect of various non-covalent interactions at the nanoparticle-DNA interface. The binding affinities of these nanoparticles towards DNA were determined using fluorescence, exhibiting more than threefold modulation in binding a 37-mer DNA strand.