Periodic 3-D nanoparticle arrays by protein crystallization
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Very small particles with diameters of only a few nanometres (a nanometre is a unit of length 1000 000 000 times smaller than a metre) can have properties quite different from bulk materials. If particles of this size are assembled to form a periodic array, that is one in which a simple arrangement of particles is repeated many times, electrical and magnetic interactions between the particles can further change the properties. This is what makes periodic arrays of nanometre-sized particles, known as nanoparticles for short, interesting.This project is to develop a new way of making 3-dimensional periodic arrays of nanoparticles, with novel and useful magnetic and optical properties. Many ways have been found to make 2-dimensional periodic arrays of nanoparticles, but making a truly 3-dimensional array, more than a few nanoparticles thick, is much more difficult. The approach we propose promises to be faster and more flexible than the current alternative, which is a purely chemical technique known as colloidal crystallization. Our method introduces elements of biology as well as chemistry, because we will synthesize nanoparticles inside proteins, then crystallize the protein. Since a protein crystal is a periodic array of molecules, and each molecule contains a nanoparticle, the result will be the desired 3-dimensional periodic array of nanoparticles.We will start by using the protein ferritin to make nanoparticles. The ferritin molecule is shaped like a hollow sphere and cells use it to store iron. We will synthesize magnetic metal and oxide nanoparticles for magnetic studies, and other metal nanoparticles for optical studies. We will find the best conditions for growing large crystals of ferritin with nanoparticles inside, and use very sensitive techniques such as scanning probe microscopy and dynamic light scattering to study the very earliest stages of array growth. We will change the symmetry of our 3-dimensional periodic arrays by changing the crystallization conditions and we will also study other proteins, including Dps, which has a similar structure to ferritin, but is used to protect DNA.We will measure the magnetic properties of our nanoparticle arrays at different temperatures and compare the results with computer simulations. This will help us gain a deeper understanding of how the magnetic fields of all the individual particles interact to determine the magnetic behaviour of the array as a whole. Understanding magnetic interactions is important for developing new materials for magnetic data recording as well as being of interest in itself.We will also measure how light is transmitted through and reflected from 3-dimensional periodic arrays of silver, gold and alloy nanoparticles. The fact that the period of the array will be much smaller than the wavelength of light makes these systems particularly interesting. Their study will contribute to the future development of exotic optical devices such as perfect lenses or shields that can make an object invisible.
Publications
Kasyutich O
(2010)
Silver ion incorporation and nanoparticle formation inside the cavity of Pyrococcus furiosus ferritin: structural and size-distribution analyses.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Kasyutich O
(2010)
Novel aspects of magnetic interactions in a macroscopic 3D nanoparticle-based crystal.
in Physical review letters
Kasyutich O
(2009)
Small angle x-ray and neutron scattering study of disordered and three dimensional-ordered magnetic protein arrays
in Journal of Applied Physics
Koralewski M
(2012)
The Faraday effect of natural and artificial ferritins.
in Nanotechnology
Okuda M
(2017)
Top-down design of magnonic crystals from bottom-up magnetic nanoparticles through protein arrays.
in Nanotechnology
Okuda M
(2012)
Fe3O4 nanoparticles: protein-mediated crystalline magnetic superstructures.
in Nanotechnology
Okuda M
(2012)
Energy barrier distribution for dispersed mixed oxide magnetic nanoparticles
in Journal of Applied Physics
Okuda M
(2016)
Pt, Co-Pt and Fe-Pt alloy nanoclusters encapsulated in virus capsids.
in Nanotechnology
Poór V
(2013)
Potential dependence of ferritin monomer, dimer and oligomer adsorption on a polycrystalline Au surface
in Electrochimica Acta
Poór V
(2010)
Investigation of Ferritin Desorption from Gold Initiated by In Situ pH-Change
in Acta Physica Polonica A
Description | This research has led to a deeper understanding of how interactions between magnetic nanoparticles affect their properties when they are combined together into an array, as well as providing new insight into how the magnetic anisotropy of individual particles affects their magnetization after heating and cooling cycles in different magnetic fields. Both are likely to be important in future applications of magnetic nanoparticles, for example in medicine. We also discovered a new method of using magnetic nanoparticles to probe the environment in freeze-concentrated solutions, something that is likely to prove relevant to the food and pharaceutical industries. |
Exploitation Route | The new method we discovered for probing freeze-concentrated solutions is being taken forward through research funded by the Leverhulme Trust |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Electronics Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Our findings have formed the basis for a European Commission Framework 7 project, which could ultimately lead to new methods of processing information based on spin-waves in meta-materials. The project has already made a contribution to strengthening international research links. |
First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | International Joint Project:Protein-based colloidal crystal nanowires |
Amount | £11,600 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2010 |
End | 09/2012 |
Description | Magnonics - Mastering magnons in magnetic meta-materials |
Amount | € 664,657 (EUR) |
Funding ID | CP-FP 228673-2 MAGNONICS |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 07/2009 |
End | 08/2012 |
Description | Research Project Grant |
Amount | £173,483 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RPG-2014-180 |
Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2015 |
End | 04/2018 |
Description | Cuiaba |
Organisation | Federal University of Mato Grosso |
Country | Brazil |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Dr Edson Chagas from UFMG spent a year working with me as a visiting researcher in 2013-14. |
Collaborator Contribution | Sample preparation, magnetic measurements |
Impact | One paper, reported elsewhere |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | NIMP |
Organisation | National Institute of Materials Physics Magurele-Bucharest |
Country | Romania |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Preparation of proteins for subsequent growth of colloidal crystal nanowires |
Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of templates |
Impact | Publication in preparation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Theoretical study of magnetic interactions |
Organisation | Federal University of Santa Catarina |
Country | Brazil |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Experimental work |
Collaborator Contribution | Prof Wagner Figueiredo and a student who visited Bristol, Mr Marcos Correia, carried out calculations for joint publications |
Impact | Publications, listed elsewhere |
Start Year | 2009 |