RAMAN SCATTERING STUDIES OF BACTERIORHODOPSIN IMMOBILIZED ON CARBON NANOTUBES

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Bionanotechnology seeks to harness protein functions for technological applications by immobilizing them on suitable anchoring platforms using methods of protein lithography. Photoreceptor membrane proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin (bR), which are light-activated and can be tuned through rational site-directed mutagenesis to increase their thermal stability, photochemical sensitivity. These proteins have emerged as leading candidates in technological applications. Proteins coupled to CNT have a higher potential for technological applications than other protein-based biomolecular devices. The nano-dimensions of single walled carbon nanotubes and their electronic properties make them an ideal substrate candidate for anchoring the proteins for biochemical sensing. Resonance Raman and surfaced-enahanced Raman spectroscopy will be used to characterize the bateriorhodopsin-carbon nanotube complexes.