Given the success of
Volume I of this Research Topic, and how rapid the subject area is evolving, we are pleased to announce the launch of Protein-Material Interfaces: Fundamentals and Applications Volume II.
Interfacing proteins with materials, both natural and synthetic, has been of significant interest to researchers from diverse disciplines for many years. From a basic research standpoint, it enables studying how proteins may behave in sophisticated environments, such as those found in vivo (for example, highly crowded or confined intracellular environments), and applying these learnings in vitro to control the structure, function, and stability of proteins. The resulting knowledge may also be leveraged to contribute to the design of medical devices, biosensors, biosynthetic processes, and bioremediation. Interfacing proteins with materials may thus facilitate a diverse range of applications in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, chemical and food industry.
The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight original articles and reviews that describe the preparation and characterization of protein-material complexes for various applications, including those in bioanalytics, biocatalysts, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Studies investigating protein-interface and protein-protein interactions at interfaces, protein self-assembly, and protein immobilization will be considered, along with different immobilization approaches regardless of their field of application. Fundamental experimental and theoretical works describing interactions between proteins and materials used for encapsulation and the effects of macromolecular crowding and confinement on protein behavior are also of high interest. Finally, while all proteins can potentially benefit from interfacing with materials, the final choice of their application depends on the economic benefits. So works that evaluate costs versus benefits obtained by interfacing proteins with materials are also highly encouraged, as are perspectives on future trends and challenges in this field.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Review and Perspective articles around the following themes:
• Protein behavior at surfaces or interfaces
• Protein encapsulation
• Macromolecular crowding and confinement
• Innovative protein immobilization strategies
• Preparation of biofunctional hybrid materials
Dr. Ansuri is the recipient of corporate grants through BioInnovation and Design.
