Search

This study introduces a novel approach to synthesising a three-dimensional (3D) micro-nanostructured amorphous biosilica. The biosilica is coated with cerium oxide nanoparticles obtained from laboratory-grown unicellular photosynthetic algae (diatoms) doped metabolically with cerium. This unique method utilises the ability of diatom cells to absorb cerium metabolically and deposit it on their silica exoskeleton as cerium oxide nanoparticles. The resulting composite (Ce-DBioSiO2) combines the unique structural and photonic properties of diatom biosilica (DBioSiO2) with the functionality of immobilised CeO2 nanoparticles. The kinetics of the cerium metabolic insertion by diatom cells and the physicochemical properties of the obtained composites were thoroughly investigated. The resulting Ce-DBioSiO2 composite exhibits intense Stokes fluorescence in the violet–blue region under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and anti-Stokes intense violet and faint green emissions under the 800 nm near-infrared excitation with a xenon lamp at room temperature in an ambient atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern technology's development is also towards using microorganisms as micro-factories of biomaterials with unique properties and combining the original properties of biosilica extracted from diatoms (microalgae) together with immobilised silver and cerium in nanoparticle forms allowed to obtain a modern composite material with antibacterial activity. The synthesised composites containing heteroepitaxially growing Ag/AgCl/CeO2 complex nanoparticles were studied using different types of instrumental analysis. SEM-EDX and XRD analysis allowed the qualitative and quantitative determination of the elements present and their forms in the composites. TEM permitted analysis of information about the created nanoparticles shape, size and structure specificity. The possible mechanism of nanoparticle formation was suggested. Antibacterial properties of synthesised composites were characterised using a minimum inhibitory concentration test on six selected bacterial strains. Diatomaceous biosilica containing heteroepitaxially growing silver chloride, metallic silver, and cerium (IV) oxide nanoparticles have been prepared for the first time. The proposed method for synthesising composites did not use toxic reagents, making it environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3D (three-dimensional) micro–nanostructured diatom biosilica obtained from cultivated diatoms was used as a support to immobilize epitaxially growing AgCl-Ag hybrid nanoparticles ((Ag-AgCl)NPs) for the synthesis of nanocomposites with antimicrobial properties. The prepared composites that contained epitaxially grown (Ag-AgCl)NPs were investigated in terms of their morphological and structural characteristics, elemental and mineral composition, crystalline forms, zeta potential, and photoluminescence properties using a variety of instrumental methods including SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray powder diffraction), zeta-potential measurement, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The content of (AgCl-Ag)NPs in the hybrid composites amounted to 4.6 mg/g and 8.4 mg/g with AgClNPs/AgNPs ratios as a percentage of 86/14 and 51/49, respectively. Hybrid nanoparticles were evenly dispersed with a dominant size of 5 to 25 nm in composite with an amount of 8.4 mg/g of silver. The average size of the nanoparticles was 7.5 nm; also, there were nanoparticles with a size of 1–2 nm and particles that were 20–40 nm. The synthesis of (Ag-AgCl)NPs and their potential mechanism were studied. The MIC (the minimum inhibitory concentration method) approach was used to investigate the antimicrobial activity against microorganisms Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The nanocomposites containing (Ag-AgCl)NPs and natural diatom biosilica showed resistance to bacterial strains from the American Type Cultures Collection and clinical isolates (diabetic foot infection and wound isolates). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of innovative solutions for modern technologies, particularly in the design and production of new micro/nanostructured materials, microorganisms acting as "natural microtechnologists" can serve as a valuable source of inspiration. This research focuses on harnessing the capabilities of unicellular algae (diatoms) to synthesize hybrid composites composed of AgNPs/TiO2NPs/pyrolyzed diatomaceous biomass (AgNPs/TiO2NPs/DBP). The composites were consistently fabricated through metabolic (biosynthesis) doping of diatom cells with titanium, pyrolysis of the doped diatomaceous biomass, and chemical doping of the pyrolyzed biomass with silver. To characterize the synthesized composites, their elemental and mineral composition, structure, morphology, and photoluminescent properties were analysed using techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The study revealed the epitaxial growth of Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of pyrolyzed diatom cells. The antimicrobial potential of the synthesized composites was evaluated using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method against prevalent drug-resistant microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Escherichia coli, both from laboratory cultures and clinical isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyapatite (HA) layers are appropriate biomaterials for use in the modification of the surface of implants produced inter alia from a Ti6Al4V alloy. The issue that must be solved is to provide implants with appropriate biointegration properties, enabling the permanent link between them and bone tissues, which is not so easy with the HA layer. Our proposition is the use of the intermediate layer ((IL) = TiO2, and titanate layers) to successfully link the HA coating to a metal substrate (Ti6Al4V). The morphology, structure, and chemical composition of Ti6Al4V/IL/HA systems were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). We evaluated the apatite-forming ability on the surface of the layer in simulated body fluid. We investigated the effects of the obtained systems on the viability and growth of human MG-63 osteoblast-like cells, mouse L929 fibroblasts, and adipose-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro, as well as on their osteogenic properties. Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that both investigated systems reflect the physiological environment of bone tissue and create a biocompatible surface supporting cell growth. However, the nanoporous TiO2 intermediate layer with osteogenesis-supportive activity seems most promising for the practical application of Ti6Al4V/TiO2/HA as a system of bone tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]