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SUMMARY:Natural nanomagnets (magnetosomes) offer inspirational solutions t
 o green production of magnetic nanoparticles  - Dr Sarah Staniland\, Depar
 tment of Chemistry\, University of Sheffield
DTSTART:20190226T120000Z
DTEND:20190226T130000Z
UID:TALK111781@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Owen Weller
DESCRIPTION:Magnetotactic bacteria take up iron ions from the environment 
 and synthesis nanoparticles of magnetite within lipid vesicles (known as m
 agnetosomes) within their cells. The biomineralisation of magnetosomes is 
 a finely tuned biological process yielding morphologically precise magneti
 c nanoparticles (MNPs).  MNPs have many applications\, particularly over a
  range of emerging biomedicine (diagnostic and therapeutic) and nanotechno
 logy (data storage). For such applications the MNPs are required to have a
  mono-disperse size and shape distribution to ensure their magnetic behavi
 our is consistent\, which can require chemical synthesis under harsh and t
 oxic conditions\, or worst still\, morphologies inaccessible by known wet 
 chemical methods. Furthermore\, the ability to tailor these requirements u
 nder ambient environmentally friendly synthetic production is a key goal f
 or greener chemistry. Thus Magnetosomes show great potential for biomedica
 l applications\, however\, magnetosomes themselves may not be ideal with r
 espect to economy of production and adaptability for different specificati
 ons. \nIn my research I have sought inspiration from nature to understand 
 and develop hybrid biomineralisation/chemical green routes to: 1. Synthesi
 se novel MNPs for medical applications and 2. Biomineralise on a massive s
 cale for structural engineering ground strengthen purposes.\nIn this talk 
 we briefly explore how magnetosomes can be enhanced and used in medicine\,
  before considering how we seek inspiration from magnetic bacteria to: 1. 
 develop “artificial magnetosomes”\; and 2. Utilise their proteins to d
 irect the synthesis of precise MNPs of magnetite\, both in greater yields 
 that magnetosomes. I will explain how we have reached a level of understan
 ding about how these proteins and peptides assemble and function to contro
 l MNP formation with the eventual aim of developing a protein/additive too
 l box for the control of a range of MNPs under ambient conditions. \nI wil
 l then change tack to consider what we have learnt from the biomineralisat
 ion process and develop new methods for ground strengthening of dangerous 
 structures such as tailings dams.
LOCATION:Tilley Lecture Theatre\, Department of Earth Sciences
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