Biomineralization is an intriguing approach to the synthesis of functional inorganic materials for energy applications whereby biological systems are engineered to mineralize inorganic materials and control their structure over multiple length scales under mild reaction conditions. Herein we demonstrate a single-enzyme-mediated biomineralization route to synthesize crystalline, catalytically ac...

Skeletogenesis in the sea urchin embryo is a simple model of biomineralization, pattern formation, and cell-cell communication during embryonic development. The calcium carbonate skeletal spicules are secreted by primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs), but the skeletal pattern is dictated by the embryonic ectoderm. Although the process of skeletogenesis is well characterized, there is little molecular...

It is increasingly important that we learn how to fabricate materials in environmentally friendly ways using common resources that are abundant in nature. Biomineralization, the process by which living organisms create a variety of sophisticated composites, such as bone and shell, is an ideal model for such fabrication. This article reviews recent progress toward the synthesis of polymer–inorga...

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), an emerging technology for soil improvement, also may be used to sequester (biomineralize) radionuclides and metal contaminants (e.g., 90 Sr 2+ , Cd 2+ ) in groundwater, a significant problem at some U.S. Department of Energy sites. Previous work using the bacterium Bacillus pasteurii suggests that in-situ sequestration of these contaminants c...

The creation of nanoscale materials for advanced structures has led to a growing interest in the area of biomineralization. Numerous microorganisms are capable of synthesizing inorganic-based structures. For example, diatoms use amorphous silica as a structural material, bacteria synthesize magnetite (Fe3O4) particles and form silver nanoparticles, and yeast cells synthesize cadmium sulphide na...

Pure culture of magnetotactic bacteria is desirable to understand their physiology, evolution and biomineralization. Here, we report a new strain Magnetospirillum sp. XM-1 that was recently isolated and cultivated from the eutrophic city moat of Xi'an, China. Magnetosome biomineralization, crystallographic and magnetic properties of XM-1 were characterized by using a combination of transmission...

Biomineralization processes leading to complex solid structures of inorganic material in biological systems are constantly gaining attention in biotechnology and biomedical research. An outstanding example for biomineral morphogenesis is the formation of highly elaborate, nano-patterned silica shells by diatoms. Among the organic macromolecules that have been closely linked to the tightly contr...