Our group investigates the formation of magnetite and possibly other iron oxides and sulfides in the magnetosome vesicles of magnetotactic bacteria at the physico-chemical level. We have developed experimental tools to study the time-resolved formation and thus the dynamics and kinetics of magnetosomes biomineralization that we then study by a whole set of analytical techniques including synchrotron X-ray diffraction, (transmission) electron microscopy, EPR spectroscopy, etc...
The unique performance of the bacterial biomaterials in term of size, shape and magnetic properties is also a source of inspiration for the materials scientists. Thus, in order to understand this biomineralization of tailored magnetic nanoparticles, and to develop bio-and technological applications, we develop biomimetic routes for the synthesis of hybrid magnetic nanocrystals under controlled conditions. We extract biomolecules from magnetotactic bacteria or use peptides with unique properties for the construction of hybrid nanostructures and imitation of biological principles of structure formation.
Research in the lab is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, diverse SPPs and individual grants), the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant), the European Union (EU Cooperation scheme), and of course the Max Planck Society (MPG)
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