Protein LEGO: 3D bionanoarchitectures with shapes and functions on demand

We report precise nanostructuring on genetically engineered spider silk using ion beam lithography (IBL) and electron beam lithography (EBL) to create well-defined 2D bionanopatterns and further assemble 3D bionanoarchitectures, named “Protein LEGO”, with shapes and functions on demand, serving as functional biointerfaces for structure enhanced fluorescence and guided cell seeding as proof-of-concepts. The control over the sequence and molecular weights of recombinant spider silk proteins via genetic engineering offers ease of functionalization and unprecedented lithographic resolutions and sharpness compared to natural proteins. This approach provides a facile method for patterning biomolecules within nanoscopic protein structures that could serve as the building blocks for functional nanocomponents and nanodevices.