Researchers Mimic Bacteria To Produce Magnetic Nanoparticles

A group of researchers has mimicked bacteria to synthesize magnetic nanoparticles that could be used for drug targeting and delivery, in magnetic inks and high-density memory devices, or as magnetic seals in motors.

Commercial room-temperature synthesis of ferromagnetic nanoparticles is very difficult. However, several strains of bacteria use a protein to produce crystalline particles magnetite (Fe3O4) particles about 50 nanometers in size. These nanoparticles that have desirable magnetic properties.

Strings of magnetic nanoparticles within bacteria. (Credit: Image courtesy of DOE/Ames Laboratory)

With this basic understanding of magnetotatic bacteria and the ability to synthesize magnetite nanoparticles, researchers managed to use this bioinspired approach to produce cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles, which doesn’t occur in living organisms. These nanoparticles have more desirable magnetic properties than magnetite, yet present the same problems for commercially producing nano-scale particles.

"It worked rather well and we ended up with very nice hexagonal cobalt ferrite crystals," researchers said. The research team is now studying whether the protein will also work for the other neodymium, gadolinium, and holmium ferrites.

Source: http://www.external.ameslab.gov