Developments of Yoctowell Cavities as a Nano and Bio-technological Tool

Biological energy conversion and molecular recognition processes normally occur on a nanoscale level. The PRCs (photosynthetic reaction centres) is one of the best example of energy conversion, which are equipped with protein helices in combination with ATP, porphyrins, and co-enzymes; such machinery of life was developed biologically in a long-term evolutionary process on a 1-10 yoctoliter (1 yL=10-24 L or 1 nm3) scale [1]. So far, scientists have been successful with the isolation and analysis of such systems but not with reproduction of the working molecular apparatus. We have introduced a simple system of so-called “yoctowells”, rigid molecular monolayers made of α,ω-diamido bolaamphiphiles around a porphyrin island of yoctoliter-sized volume, on to gold electrodes, colloidal gold particles, silica particles and magnetic silica particles (Figure 1) [1,2].