Abstract: The present invention provides for a modified virus, such as a recombinant M13 phage, which in an array, such as a film, is capable of producing piezoelectricity. The modified virus comprises a coat protein can displays a negatively charged amino acid sequence. The present invention provides for a device comprising a piezoelectric element comprising a suitable virus, such as the modified virus, a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is in contact with a first electrode and the second surface is in contact with a second electrode, wherein when pressure is applied to the film, the film is capable of generating an electric current. The present invention provides for a method of making the device, and a method for generating electricity using the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a modified virus, such as a recombinant M13 phage, which in an array, such as a film, is capable of producing piezoelectricity. The modified virus comprises a coat protein can displays a negatively charged amino acid sequence. The present invention provides for a device comprising a piezoelectric element comprising a suitable virus, such as the modified virus, a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is in contact with a first electrode and the second surface is in contact with a second electrode, wherein when pressure is applied to the film, the film is capable of generating an electric current. The present invention provides for a method of making the device, and a method for generating electricity using the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, a device comprising a colorimetric detection layer configured to undergo a color change upon interaction with a first analyte of interest. The detection layer comprises a first plurality of self-assembled fiber bundles. At least a fraction of the fiber bundles undergo a change from a first conformation to a second conformation upon interaction with the first analyte of interest, thereby undergoing a color change. The invention also provides a method for using the system to detect an analyte of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, a device comprising a colorimetric detection layer configured to undergo a color change upon interaction with a first analyte of interest. The detection layer comprises a first plurality of self-assembled fiber bundles. At least a fraction of the fiber bundles undergo a change from a first conformation to a second conformation upon interaction with the first analyte of interest, thereby undergoing a color change. The invention also provides a method for using the system to detect an analyte of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, a device comprising a colorimetric detection layer configured to undergo a color change upon interaction with a first analyte of interest. The detection layer comprises a first plurality of self-assembled fiber bundles. At least a fraction of the fiber bundles undergo a change from a first conformation to a second conformation upon interaction with the first analyte of interest, thereby undergoing a color change. The invention also provides a method for using the system to detect an analyte of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, a device comprising a colorimetric detection layer configured to undergo a color change upon interaction with a first analyte of interest. The detection layer comprises a first plurality of self-assembled fiber bundles. At least a fraction of the fiber bundles undergo a change from a first conformation to a second conformation upon interaction with the first analyte of interest, thereby undergoing a color change. The invention also provides a method for using the system to detect an analyte of interest.

Abstract: The invention provides for a receptor, capable of binding to a target molecule, linked to a hygroscopic polymer or hydrogel; and the use of this receptor in a device for detecting the target molecule in a gaseous and/or liquid phase. The invention also provides for a method for detecting the presence of a target molecule in the gas phase using the device. In particular, the receptor can be a peptide capable of binding a 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) or 2,4,-dinitrotoluene (DNT).

Abstract: The invention provides for a receptor, capable of binding to a target molecule, linked to a hygroscopic polymer or hydrogel; and the use of this receptor in a device for detecting the target molecule in a gaseous and/or liquid phase. The invention also provides for a method for detecting the presence of a target molecule in the gas phase using the device. In particular, the receptor can be a peptide capable of binding a 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) or 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT).

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for selective binding of amino acid oligomers to semiconductor and elemental carbon-containing materials. One form of the present invention is a method for controlling the particle size of the semiconductor or elemental carbon-containing material by interacting an amino acid oligomer that specifically binds the material with solutions that can result in the formation of the material. The same method can be used to control the aspect ratio of the nanocrystal particles of the semiconductor material. Another form of the present invention is a method to create nanowires from the semiconductor or elemental carbon-containing material. Yet another form of the present invention is a biologic scaffold comprising a substrate capable of binding one or more biologic materials, one or more biologic materials attached to the substrate, and one or more elemental carbon-containing molecules attached to one or more biologic materials.

Abstract: The invention provides for a composition comprising a genetically engineered bacteriophage capable of guiding cell growth and polarization via signaling peptides and directionally aligned structures. The invention provides for modified bacteriophage and its uses thereof. The present invention also provides for genetically engineered phage capable of guiding cell growth, migration and/or alignment, providing essential biological effects including proliferation and/or differentiation, which can be performed by expressing specific biological motifs, such as the amino acid sequences RGD, IKVAV, DGEA and HPQ, on their coat proteins, on which functional DNA, proteins and cells can be conjugated and/or fixed thereon.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for producing nanocrystals of semiconductor material that have specific crystallographic features such as phase and alignment by using a self-assembling biological molecule that has been modified to possess an amino acid oligomer that is capable of specific binding to semi-conductor material. One form of the present invention is a method to construct ordered nanoparticles within the liquid crystal of the self-assembling biological molecule.

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HA)-binding peptides are selected using combinatorial phage library display. Pseudo-repetitive consensus amino acid sequences possessing periodic hydroxyl side chains in every two or three amino acid sequences are obtained. These sequences resemble the (Gly-Pro-Hyp)x repeat of human type I collagen, a major component of extracellular matrices of natural bone. A consistent presence of basic amino acid residues is also observed. The peptides are synthesized by the solid-phase synthetic method and then used for template-driven HA-mineralization. Microscopy reveal that the peptides template the growth of polycrystalline HA crystals ˜40 nm in size.

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HA)-binding peptides are selected using combinatorial phage library display. Pseudo-repetitive consensus amino acid sequences possessing periodic hydroxyl side chains in every two or three amino acid sequences are obtained. These sequences resemble the (Gly-Pro-Hyp)x repeat of human type I collagen, a major component of extracellular matrices of natural bone. A consistent presence of basic amino acid residues is also observed. The peptides are synthesized by the solid-phase synthetic method and then used for template-driven HA-mineralization. Microscopy reveal that the peptides template the growth of polycrystalline HA crystals ˜40 nm in size.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and composition of storing and preserving biofilms for input and output of high-density information. One form of the present invention is a fabricated biofilm storage device with a biologic material applied to a substrate to form, e.g., a dry thin film stable at room temperature for extended periods of time. Another form of the present invention is a method of fabricating a biofilm storage device in which a biologic material is applied to a substrate under conditions that promote alignment of the biologic material on the substrate. The composition, method, and kit of the present invention have universal application in biologics, magnetics, optics and microelectronics.

Abstract: Long rod shaped M13 viruses were used to fabricate one dimensional (1D) micro- and nanosized diameter fibers by mimic the spinning process of the silk spider. Liquid crystalline virus suspensions were extruded through the micrometer diameter capillary tubes in cross-linking solution (glutaraldehyde). Resulting fibers were tens of micrometers in diameter depending on the inner diameter of the capillary tip. AFM image verified that molecular long axis of the virus fibers were parallel to the fiber long axis. Although aqueous M13 virus suspension could not be spun by electrospinning, M13 viruses suspended in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol were spun into fibers. After blending with highly water soluble polymer, polyvinyl 2-pyrolidone (PVP), M13 viruses was spun into continuous uniform virus blended PVP (virus-PVP) fibers. Resulting virus-PVP electrospun fibers showed intact infecting ability to bacterial hosts after suspending in the buffer solution.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for producing nanocrystals of semiconductor material that have specific crystallographic features such as phase and alignment by using a self-assembling biological molecule that has been modified to possess an amino acid oligomer that is capable of specific binding to semi-conductor material. One form of the present invention is a method to construct ordered nanoparticles within the liquid crystal of the self-assembling biological molecule.

Abstract: Long rod shaped M13 viruses were used to fabricate one dimensional (1D) micro- and nanosized diameter fibers by mimic the spinning process of the silk spider. Liquid crystalline virus suspensions were extruded through the micrometer diameter capillary tubes in cross-linking solution (glutaraldehyde). Resulting fibers were tens of micrometers in diameter depending on the inner diameter of the capillary tip. AFM image verified that molecular long axis of the virus fibers were parallel to the fiber long axis. Although aqueous M13 virus suspension could not be spun by electrospinning, M13 viruses suspended in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol were spun into fibers. After blending with highly water soluble polymer, polyvinyl 2-pyrolidone (PVP), M13 viruses was spun into continuous uniform virus blended PVP (virus-PVP) fibers. Resulting virus-PVP electrospun fibers showed intact infecting ability to bacterial hosts after suspending in the buffer solution.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for selective binding of amino acid oligomers to semiconductor and elemental carbon-containing materials. One form of the present invention is a method for controlling the particle size of the semiconductor or elemental carbon-containing material by interacting an amino acid oligomer that specifically binds the material with solutions that can result in the formation of the material. The same method can be used to control the aspect ratio of the nanocrystal particles of the semiconductor material. Another form of the present invention is a method to create nanowires from the semiconductor or elemental carbon-containing material. Yet another form of the present invention is a biologic scaffold comprising a substrate capable of binding one or more biologic materials, one or more biologic materials attached to the substrate, and one or more elemental carbon-containing molecules attached to one or more biologic materials.

Abstract: Long rod shaped M13 viruses were used to fabricate one dimensional (1D) micro- and nanosized diameter fibers by mimic the spinning process of the silk spider. Liquid crystalline virus suspensions were extruded through the micrometer diameter capillary tubes in cross-linking solution (glutaraldehyde). Resulting fibers were tens of micrometers in diameter depending on the inner diameter of the capillary tip. AFM image verified that molecular long axis of the virus fibers were parallel to the fiber long axis. Although aqueous M13 virus suspension could not be spun by electrospinning, M13 viruses suspended in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol were spun into fibers. After blending with highly water soluble polymer, polyvinyl 2-pyrolidone (PVP), M13 viruses was spun into continuous uniform virus blended PVP (virus-PVP) fibers. Resulting virus-PVP electrospun fibers showed intact infecting ability to bacterial hosts after suspending in the buffer solution.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and composition of storing and preserving biofilms for input and output of high-density information. One form of the present invention is a fabricated biofilm storage device with a biologic material applied to a substrate to form, e.g., a dry thin film stable at room temperature for extended periods of time. Another form of the present invention is a method of fabricating a biofilm storage device in which a biologic material is applied to a substrate under conditions that promote alignment of the biologic material on the substrate. The composition, method, and kit of the present invention have universal application in biologics, magnetics, optics and microelectronics.