Lipoproteins: When size really matters

摘要: The field of nanoscience is extending the applications physics, chemistry and biology into previously unapproached infinitesimal length scales. Understanding behavior manipulating positions properties single atoms molecules hold great potential to improve areas science as disparate medicine computation, communication orbiting satellites. Yet, in race develop novel, unavailable nanoparticles, there an opportunity for scientists this digress apply their growing understanding tools nanotechnology one most pressing problems all human biology—diseases related lipoproteins. Although not appreciated outside lipoprotein biology, variations compositions, structures these nanoscale-sized, blood-borne particles are responsible health, morbidity mortality Western world. If lipoproteins could be understood at nanometer scale with precise details functions, understand a wide range perplexing physiological processes also address dysfunctions normal that lead such diseases hypercholesterolemia, heart disease, stroke neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, if capabilities assemble manipulate nanometer-sized recruited studies lipoproteins, biological would provide new dimension therapeutic agents, natural designed carry out many specialized beneficial tasks.