Self-assembling and biomimetic biomaterials

A fundamental mechanism to achieve function in biology is the interaction among nanoscale objects that have both defined shapes and surface chemistries. The most important nanostructures are, of course, proteins that can engage in molecular recognition events of high fidelity with small molecules, with segments of macromolecules, or with other proteins forming complexes that range from dimers to polymers. An interesting example of shape and surface chemical map versus function is offered by the complex known as α-hemolysin shown in Figure 22.1. This complex is formed by the self-assembly of seven polypeptide chains into a mushroom-shaped structure produced by a human pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus.