Integration of nanometric motor proteins towards a macroscopic power tool

Abstract

The use of motor proteins as power nanotools on a small scale as a single-molecular driving unit and on a larger scale via integration has been attempted considering that successful cases of such integrations exist in natural systems such as in the organs of the animal body. However, it is challenging to replicate such integrations in artificial systems, and therefore, several studies focus on harnessing the movements of individual motor proteins in nanotechnology. In this paper, the existing literature is reviewed to discuss the integration of motor proteins to scale up and to accelerate the movements in complex systems. A method that focuses on kinesin-microtubule motor proteins is introduced to help replicate the movements of motor proteins and allow researchers from different fields to gain interest in this topic; the potential applications of the motor proteins and the needs of orientation toward concrete issues for future are also noted.