Researchers Mimic Bacteria To Produce Magnetic Nanoparticles
Date: 18.4.2008
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.
#img_955#.> *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":[ http://www.external.ameslab.gov/final/News/2008rel/Magnetite.html]
