Microtubule architecture: inspiration for novel carbon nanotube-based biomimetic materials.

@article{Pampaloni2008MicrotubuleAI,
  title={Microtubule architecture: inspiration for novel carbon nanotube-based biomimetic materials.},
  author={F. Pampaloni and E. Florin},
  journal={Trends in biotechnology},
  year={2008},
  volume={26 6},
  pages={
          302-10
        }
}
Microtubules are self-assembling biological nanotubes that are essential for cell motility, cell division and intracellular trafficking. Microtubules have outstanding mechanical properties, combining high resilience and stiffness. Such a combination allows microtubules to accomplish multiple cellular functions and makes them interesting for material sciences. We review recent experiments that elucidate the relationship between molecular architecture and mechanics in microtubules and examine… Expand
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