Controlled self-assembly of rodlike bacterial pili particles into ordered lattices

Abstract

Pili pickup sticks: Rodlike type 1 bacterial pili particles (see picture, red) self-assemble into highly ordered nanostructures through molecular recognition in the presence of suitable inducers. 1D bundles, 2D double-layer lattices, and 3D multilayer lattices were produced by varying the nature and concentration of the inducers. The self-assembled pili serve as templates for nucleating and organizing inorganic nanomaterials such as silica.