Novel hybrids, comprised of a biologically active protein molecule core, coated with a thin outer layer of porous metallic silver, were developed in our lab. By the conjugation of silver reducing polymer to the surface of soluble, molecular, biologically active protein molecules and subsequent addition of silver salt, electroless silver deposition was directed to the surface of the protein molecules. The silver-protein hybrids thus obtained, presenting novel nano-particles several nanometers in size, retained their solubility and biological activity and exhibited enhanced thermal stability.
The silver coating combined with the retained biological activity of its protein core, paved the way to a series of biomedical applications of these hybrids, including (1) "wiring" of the active site of oxido-reductase enzyme to electrodes, (2) imaging of the presence of targeted ligands displayed on cell surface and (3) antimicrobial site-directed, enzymatically attenuated release of silver ions.
In this presentation we shall describe the fabrication of silver-enzyme (glucose oxidase) hybrids and silver-binding proteins (Avidin and Erbitux, a therapeutic antibody) hybrids and demonstrate feasibility of their application for electro-biochemical glucose determination in the absence of oxygen; imaging by electron microscopy of proteins displayed on cancer cell surface and antimicrobial activity, all mediated by the abovementioned molecular hybrids.
