Proteotronics: Development of Protein-Based Electronics

Protein-mediated charge transport is of relevant importance in the design of protein-based electronics and in attaining an adequate level of understanding of protein functioning. This book reviews a variety of experiments devoted to the investigation of charge transport in proteins and presents a unified theoretical model to interpret macroscopic results in terms of the amino acids backbone-structure of the single protein. It aims to serve a broad audience of researchers involved in the field of electrical characterization of biological materials and in the development of new molecular devices based on proteins and also as a reference platform that surveys existing data and presents the basis for future development of a new branch of nano-electronics, which by mixing proteomics, that is, the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions, and electronics is introduced here as proteotronics.

Eleonora Alfinito is a researcher in condensed matter physics at the University of Salento, Lecce, Italy. Her research activity is founded on quantum field theory, physics of matter, and mathematical physics. At present, her main interests concern with the electrical properties of biological matter, proteins in particular, and the statistical characterization of electrical fluctuations.

Jeremy Pousset is a researcher at the Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems of the National Research Council, Lecce, Italy. His research activity has been devoted to the problem of terahertz plasma waves in nano-devices and the development of Monte Carlo codes and the investigation of electron transport modelling of biological matter. Currently, he is working on the electrical characterization of organic materials.

Lino Reggiani is full professor in physics of matter at the University of Salento, where he is carrying out a research activity finalized to the study of electrical properties and fluctuations to characterize materials and devices to be used in nano-electronics and in the development of sensors. He has authored and co-authored over 500 scientific publications in specialized international magazines.