The application of bacterial S-layers in molecular nanotechnology

Crystalline bacterial-cell-surface-layer (S-layer) proteins can assemble in to large-scale, coherent, two-dimensional arrays on solid supports, air-wat er interfaces and lipid films. Slayers can be patterned by deep ultraviolet radiation and, after reinforcement, used as high-resolution resists in sil icon technology. S-layers might also be used as, for example, immobilizatio n matrices for biologically functional molecules or templates in the format ion of ordered arrays of nanoparticles, which are required for nanoelectron ics and nonlinear optics. As an alternative to soft polymer cushions, S-lay ers can also be used as stabilizing and supporting structures for lipid mem branes.