Highly Efficient Guiding of Microtubule Transport with Imprinted CYTOP Nanotracks

Abstract

Immobilized kinesin motor molecules are shown to efficiently transport microtubules along nanoscale tracks that were prepared using nanoimprint lithographic techniques (see picture). Within tracks with a width of 350 nm, the microtubules move smoothly with almost 100 % efficiency; the microtubules are shown to glide ≈2.5 mm before detaching from the surface. Future nanosystems for single-molecule manipulation and detection are envisaged.