Advances in S-layer nanotechnology and biomimetics.

Two-dimensional crystalline bacterial S-layers composed of identical protein or glycoprotein subunits turned out to be ideal materials for the development of biomimetic membranes and new approaches in molecular nanotechnology. These isoporous protein lattices have already been used as (i) structure for producing isoporous ultrafiltration membranes with very precisely defined molecular sieving properties, (ii) matrices for immobilizing monolayers of functional molecules, (iii) stabilizing structure for LB-films and liposomes, and (iv) patterning elements in molecular nanotechnology.