Metalization of microtubules

摘要

Protein polymers coated with a metal are provided. New methods are described for the preparation of tubulin-based microtubules such that they may be coated, by an electroless plating method, with gold particles of <20 nm in diameter without prior reaction with noble metal catalysts. The gold particle deposition can occur in suspension or on microtubules lying on a surface. Gold enhancement of the gold-particle coating and annealing results in ohmic conductance that is within a factor of ten of the resistivity of bulk gold. These methods are likely to be applicable to other protein polymers.