PROTEIN THIN FILMS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR USE IN THEIR PREPARATION

摘要

The invention relates to protein thin films and compositions for use in their preparation. In one aspect reverse micelles of protein are used to prepare homogeneous thin films. The process is useful for making thin films of water-soluble proteins which might otherwise be unstable at the air/water interface. In another aspect protein thin films are thermally stabilized whilst preserving the functional properties to produce an oriented Langmuir-Blodgett protein film. Another aspect provides a method for preparing protein thin films on non-planar substrates such as microparticles. Also, in another aspect, the invention provides for chemical functionalization and site-specific mutagenesis of proteins to provide ordered protein thin films.