The proteins could be engineered to pull a specific molecule from the sample and hold it until the rest of the blood had been washed away. The proteins could then be prompted to release the desired material. This switch idea in combination with the shield concept allows you to discriminate on the basis of size, Stayton said. It adds a greater level of responsiveness to things like diagnostics, which usually involve steps of capture and release. Computing is another area in which the technology could apply.
Computers operate on a binary system they rely on having an on and an off state.
Typically, that s done with non-biological components now, Stayton said. This indicates another, very nice way to do it. The diminutive size of the proteins and molecules involved could open avenues into advanced concepts like lab on a chip the ability to fit a full range of laboratory functions on a single computer chip. They may also serve as useful components for chip technologies involving such disciplines as genomics. In the published research, the scientists used changes in temperature or acidity to trigger the smart polymers.