The synthesis of the precise artificial capsules which can encapsulate huge molecules like a protein was first achieved utilizing self-assembly process, where metal ions and organic compounds are just mixed in a flask. A wide variety of applications in the fields of industry, drug discovery, and so on are expected, because the encapsulation of proteins could be useful for structural analysis or functional improvement of the trapped proteins.
http://www.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/etpage/release/2012/12100301.html
Researcher Information
JST CREST Research Area “Development of the foundation for nano-interface technology”,
Research Theme: “Self-assembled Discrete Nanointerfaces”
Journal Information
Published in “Nature Communications”, scientific journal of Nature Publishing Group
Daishi Fujita, Kosuke Suzuki, Sota Sato, Maho Yagi-Utsumi, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Nobuhiro Mizuno, Takashi Kumasaka, Masaki Takata, Masanori Noda, Susumu Uchiyama, Koichi Kato and Makoto Fujita. “Protein encapsulation within synthetic molecular hosts” Nature Commun., 2012
doi: 10.1038/ncomms2093
Contact
[About Research]
Makoto Fujita Ph.D.,
Professor, Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering,
The University of Tokyo
http://fujitalab.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/index_e/
Koichi Kato Ph.D.,
Professor, Department of Life and Coordination-Complex Molecular Science, Institute for Molecular Science and Department of Bioenvironmental Science, Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
http://groups.ims.ac.jp/organization/kkato_g/
[About Program]
Green Innovation Group, Department of Innovation Research, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Masashi Furukawa,
E-mail: