12/17/2010
Protein Particles Formed by Protein Activation and Spontaneous Self-Assembly
(4139–4144) Advanced Functional Materials 20  #23 (2010)
Mak et al fabricated biodegradable and highly homogeneous pure protein particles by self-assembly.  Internal disulfide bridges within the protein molecules are used as linkers to assemble protein molecules into particle form..  The assembly process is triggered by an activating reagent–dithiothreitol, which only involves an intermediate step without being incorporated into the resulting protein microparticles.  The result is highly homogeneous, stable and non-fluorescence pure protein microparticles under mild conditions at physiological pH and temperature. (RDC 12/14.2010)