Phage display selected magnetite interacting Adhirons for shape controlled nanoparticle synthesis

Adhirons are robust, well expressing, peptide display scaffold proteins, developed as an effective alternative to traditional antibody binding proteins for highly specific molecular recognition applications. This paper reports for the first time the use of these versatile proteins for material binding, and as tools for controlling material synthesis on the nanoscale. A phage library of Adhirons, each displaying two variable binding loops, was screened to identify specific proteins able to interact with [100] faces of cubic magnetite nanoparticles. The selected variable regions display a strong preference for basic residues such as lysine. Molecular dynamics simulations of amino acid adsorption onto a [100] magnetite surface provides a rationale for these interactions, with the lowest adsorption energy observed with lysine. These proteins direct the shape of the forming nanoparticles towards a cubic morphology in room temperature magnetite precipitation reactions, in stark contrast to the high temperature, harsh reaction conditions currently used to produce cubic nanoparticles. These effects demonstrate the utility of the selected Adhirons as novel magnetite mineralization control agents using ambient aqueous conditions. The approach we outline with artificial protein scaffolds has the potential to develop into a toolkit of novel additives for wider nanomaterial fabrication

Biomagnetic recovery of selenium: Bioaccumulating of selenium granules in magnetotactic bacteria

Using microorganisms to remove waste and/or neutralize pollutants from contaminated water is attracting much attention due to the environmentally friendly nature of this methodology. However, cell recovery remains a bottleneck and a considerable challenge for the development of this process. Magnetotactic bacteria are a unique group of organisms that can be manipulated by an external magnetic field due to the presence of biogenic magnetite crystals formed within their cells. In this study, we demonstrated the first account of accumulation and precipitation of amorphous elemental selenium nanoparticles within magnetotactic bacteria alongside and independently to magnetite crystal biomineralisation when grown in a medium containing selenium oxyanion (SeO3 (2-)). Quantitative analysis shows that magnetotactic bacteria accumulate the highest amount of target molecules (Se) per cell than any other previously reported of non-ferrous metal/metalloid. For example, 2.4 and 174 times more Se is accumulated when compared to Te uptaken into cells and Cd(2+) adsorption onto the cell surface respectively. Crucially, the bacteria with high levels of Se accumulation were successfully recovered with an external magnetic field. This biomagnetic recovery and effective accumulation of target elements demonstrate the potential for application in bioremediation of polluted water. IMPORTANCE: The development of a technique for effective environmental water remediation is urgently required across the globe. A biological remediation process of waste removal and/or neutralization of pollutant from contaminated water using microorganism has great potential, but cell recovery remains a bottleneck. Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize magnetic particles within their cells, which can be recovered by a magnetic field. Herein, we report the first example of accumulation and precipitation of amorphous elemental selenium nanoparticles within magnetotactic bacteria independent of magnetic particle synthesis. The cells were able to accumulate the highest amount of Se compared to other foreign elements. More importantly, the Se accumulating bacteria were successfully recovered with an external magnetic field. We believe magnetotactic bacteria confer unique advantages of biomagnetic cell recovery and of Se accumulation, providing a new and effective methodology for bioremediation of polluted water

Taking a hard line with biotemplating: cobalt-doped magnetite magnetic nanoparticle arrays.

Rapid advancements made in technology, and the drive towards miniaturisation, means that we require reliable, sustainable and cost effective methods of manufacturing a wide range of nanomaterials. In this bioinspired study, we take advantage of millions of years of evolution, and adapt a biomineralisation protein for surface patterning of biotemplated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). We employ soft-lithographic micro-contact printing to pattern a recombinant version of the biomineralisation protein Mms6 (derived from the magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1). The Mms6 attaches to gold surfaces via a cysteine residue introduced into the N-terminal region. The surface bound protein biotemplates highly uniform MNPs of magnetite onto patterned surfaces during an aqueous mineralisation reaction (with a mean diameter of 90 ± 15 nm). The simple addition of 6% cobalt to the mineralisation reaction maintains the uniformity in grain size (with a mean diameter of 84 ± 14 nm), and results in the production of MNPs with a much higher coercivity (increased from ≈156 Oe to ≈377 Oe). Biotemplating magnetic nanoparticles on patterned surfaces could form a novel, environmentally friendly route for the production of bit-patterned media, potentially the next generation of ultra-high density magnetic data storage devices. This is a simple method to fine-tune the magnetic hardness of the surface biotemplated MNPs, and could easily be adapted to biotemplate a wide range of different nanomaterials on surfaces to create a range of biologically templated devices

Simultaneously Discrete Biomineralization of Magnetite and Tellurium Nanocrystals in Magnetotactic Bacteria▿

Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize intracellular magnetosomes comprising membrane-enveloped magnetite crystals within the cell which can be manipulated by a magnetic field. Here, we report the first example of tellurium uptake and crystallization within a magnetotactic bacterial strain, Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1. These bacteria independently crystallize tellurium and magnetite within the cell. This is also highly significant as tellurite (TeO32−), an oxyanion of tellurium, is harmful to both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Additionally, due to its increasing use in high-technology products, tellurium is very precious and commercially desirable. The use of microorganisms to recover such molecules from polluted water has been considered as a promising bioremediation technique. However, cell recovery is a bottleneck in the development of this approach. Recently, using the magnetic property of magnetotactic bacteria and a cell surface modification technology, the magnetic recovery of Cd2+ adsorbed onto the cell surface was reported. Crystallization within the cell enables approximately 70 times more bioaccumulation of the pollutant per cell than cell surface adsorption, while utilizing successful recovery with a magnetic field. This fascinating dual crystallization of magnetite and tellurium by magnetotactic bacteria presents an ideal system for both bioremediation and magnetic recovery of tellurite

Charge Modified Cowpea Mosaic Virus Particles for Templated Mineralization

Surface charge modification of wild-type Cowpea mosaic virus, a plant virus, is sufficient to promote the templated mineralization of metal and metal oxide. Surface negative charge is increased by the chemical introduction of succinamate on surface lysine groups. The cobalt and iron oxide templated nanoparticles subsequently obtained are monodisperse with a diameter of ca. 32 nm. Further, the iron oxide-CPMV nanoparticles can be readily decorated with thiol-containing molecules