Bacteriorhodopsin Thin-Film Assemblies-Immobilization, Properties, and Applications

Supramolecular assembly of optically active materials into thin film architectures is a topic of significant practical importance. Improving the optical functionality and stability compared to the bulk state of typically fragile biological molecules is a driving force for work in this area. Here, the photocycle of Bacteriorhodopsin (bR, see Fig), and the immobilization methods used to generate thin film structures of bR are reviewed, potential applications are presented, and the controversial mechanism of the differential photoelectric response of bR is discussed.