Abstract
Microtubules (MTs) are self-assembled proteinaceous filaments with nanometer scale diameters and micrometer scale lengths. Their aspect ratio, the reversibility of their assembly and their ability to be metallized by electroless plating make them good candidates to serve as templates for the fabrication of nanowires. We have shown that microtubule-associated-proteins (MAPs) play a critical role in maintaining the MT stability during Pt-catalyzed electroless Ni plating. MAP-stabilized MTs metallized for one minute in a Ni-acetate-based electroless-plating bath are coated with a metal film only several nanometers thick. The MAPs appear to lead to the formation of nanometer-wide metal bridges between the MTs. The metal coatings are constituted of small Pt clusters (∼3 nm), distributed and oriented randomly, embedded in an amorphous nickel matrix.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
N. C. Seeman and A. M. Belcher, PNAS 99 (2002) 6451.
C. A. Mirkin, Mater. Res. Soc. Bull. 25 (2000) 43.
A. P. Alivisatos, K. P. Johnsson, X. G. Peng, T. E. Wilson, C. J. Loweth, M. B. Bruchez and P. G. Schultz, Nature 382 (1996) 609.
J. K. N. Mirbindyo, B. D. Resis, B. R. Martin, C. D. Keating, M. J. Natan and T. E. Mallouk, Adv. Mater. 13 (2001) 249.
E. Braun, Y. Eichen, U. Sivan and G. Benyoseph, Nature 391 (1998) 775.
S. Vauthey, S. Santoso, H. Gong, N. Watson and S. Zhang, PNAS 99 (2002) 5355.
G. E. Douberly, S. Pan, D. Walters and H. Matsui, J. Phys. Chem. B 105 (2001) 7621.
H. Matsui, P. Porrata and G. E. Douberly, Nano Lett. 1 (2001) 461.
G. M. Chow, M. Pazirandeh, S. Baral and J. R. Campbell, Nano-Struct. Mater. 2 (1993) 495.
T. Scheibel, R. Parthasarathy, G. Sawicki, X. Lin, H. M. Jaeger and S. L. Lindquist, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100 (2003) 4527.
M. Mertig, R. Kirsch and W. Pompe, Appl. Phys. A 66 (1998) S723.
K. Kinoshita, I. Arnal, A. Desai, D. N. Drechsel and A. A. Hyman, Science 294 (2001) 1340.
S. Behrens, K. Rahn, N. Habicht, K. J. Bohm, H. Rosner, E. Dinjus and E. Unger, Adv. Mater. 14(22) (2002) 1621.
R. Kirsch, M. Mertig, W. Pompe, R. Wahl, G. Sadowski, K. J. Bohm and E. Unger, Thin Solid Films 305 (1997) 248.
S. C. Schuyler and D. Pellman, Cell. 105(4) (2001) 421.
M. J. Schilstra, P. M. Bayley and S. R. Martin, Biochem. J. 227 (1991) 839.
L. A. Amos and L. Jan, Chem. Biol. 6 (1999) 65.
I. Arnal and R. H. Wade, Curr. Biol. 5 (1995) 900.
A. Desai and T. J. Mitchison, Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 13 (1997) 83.
H. Felgner, R. Frank, J. Biernat, E. M. Mandelkow, E. Mandelkow, B. Ludin, A. Matus and M. Schliwa, J. Cell. Biol. 138 (1997) 1067.
E. Hamel, A. A. Delcampo, M. Lowe and C. M. Lin, J. Biol. Chem. 256 (1981) 11887.
T. S. Ahmadi, Z. L. Wang, T. C. Green, A. Henglein and M. A. El-Sayed, Science 272 (1997) 1924.
L. C. Ciacchi, P. Wolfgang and D. V. Alessandro, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 123 (2001) 7371.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yang, Y., Constance, B., Deymier, P.A. et al. Electroless metal plating of microtubules: Effect of microtubule-associated proteins. Journal of Materials Science 39, 1927–1933 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JMSC.0000017754.47572.1e
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JMSC.0000017754.47572.1e