Papers by Keyword: Bio-Templating

Abstract: Adoption of desalination technologies to produce fresh water in developing countries remains underutilized due to the substantial energy consumption, high operational costs, and membrane fouling associated with conventional methods. Microbial desalination cells (MDCs) have emerged as a promising alternative, offering simultaneous wastewater treatment, bioelectricity generation, and salt removal. This study aimed to evaluate the bio-templating of copper and zinc oxide nanoparticles on waste-derived eggshell membranes (CZ-ESM) and subsequently incorporated into ion exchange membranes (IEMs) for MDC applications. Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) confirmed the presence of calcinated CZ-ESM in the IEMs. The modified and control IEMs were compared based on water uptake, mechanical strength, biofouling resistance, and salt removal. Incorporation of calcinated CZ-ESM nanocomposites enhanced membrane hydrophilicity, reflected in increased water uptake while also exhibiting reduced microbial colonization, thereby improving anti-fouling performance. However, the addition of calcinated CZ-ESM nanocomposites resulted in decreased tensile strength due to nanocomposite aggregation and heterogeneous resin distribution. Modification of the IEMs showed statistically the same salt removal as that of the unmodified counterpart. These findings demonstrate the use of CZ-ESM nanocomposites as fillers for MDC membranes, highlighting their ability to enhance hydrophilicity and antifouling properties, but improvements in the mechanical properties and salt removal must be further investigated to address practical limitations in the MDC application.

Abstract: In biomineralization, self-organization of organic based templates provides scaffolding for the assembly of QDs materials. The host-guest relationship between these protein cages and the encapsulated material is based primarily on a complementary electrostatic interaction. Zinc selenide (ZnSe) were synthesized in the cavity of the apoferritin from horse spleen (HsAFr) and the reaction condition was optimized by adding tween 20 to avoid ferritin agglomeration. The obtained nanodots were characterized by TEM, and absorption measurements. In addition, the protein concentration of ZnSe-ferritin was precisely measured by the Bradford protein assay method. From the results, it was concluded that the ZnSe nanocrystals were successfully synthesized in the core of ferritin and it can be applied as a potential functional material such as transistors, biosensor materials or medical imaging.

Abstract: Cobalt oxyhydroxide nanocrystals were synthesized in an aqueous solution in the cavity of the apoferritin from horse spleen (HsAFr), and two-dimensional CoOOH-ferritin nanodots were prepared by simple touch method on modified silicon surface. In the synthesis, CoOOH nanocrystals are encapsulated and growth is restricted to the internal dimension of the protein cavity. The obtained nanodots were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), absorption and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. From the results, it was concluded that CoOOH nanocrystals were successfully synthesized in the core of ferritin and the monolayer of CoOOH-ferritin could be obtained on the surface of modified silicon surface. In addition, CoOOH quantum dots(QDs) in ferritin core provided the PL emission peak. Accordingly, the CoOOH-ferritin arrays can be employed as a potential useful biosensor material for PL technique.