Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
Yves L. Dory
Laboratoire de synthèse supramoléculaire, Département de chimie,
Institut de Pharmacologie, Université de Sherbrooke,
3001, 12e avenue nord, Sherbrooke, Qc J1H 5N4, Canada
Yves.Dory@USherbrooke.ca
2.1
Introduction
In self-assembly, an ordered structure emerges spontaneously from
disorder [1,2]. Scientists have long been interested in reproducing
this amazing phenomenon in their laboratories for various purposes.
This research can be purely driven by curiosity to grasp a deeper
understanding of life, since all living organisms are in essence
complex supramolecular associations of lifeless components [3].
Copying this bottom-up approach is also very appealing to material
science researchers and engineers to craft novel materials of the
future [4-11]. Nanotubes can ease transport across biological
membranes like their natural analogues, gramicidin A or porin
Search WWH ::
Custom Search