Cobalt Ferrite Nanocrystals: Out-Performing Magnetotactic Bacteria

Cobalt ferrite nanocrystals: out-performing magnetotactic bacteria.

Magnetotactic bacteria produce exquisitely ordered chains of uniform magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) nanocrystals, and the use of the bacterial mms6 protein allows for the shape-selective synthesis of Fe(3)O(4) nanocrystals. Cobalt ferrite (CoFe(2)O(4)) nanoparticles, on the other hand, are not known to occur in living organisms. Here we report on the use of the recombinant mms6 protein in a templated sy...

Optimization of Magnetic Properties in Cobalt Ferrite Nanocrystals

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) possesses excellent chemical stability, good mechanical hardness and a large positive first order crystalline anisotropy constant, which made this ferrite a promising candidate for magneto-optical recording media. In addition to precise control on the composition and structure of CoFe2O4, the success of its practical application will depend on the capability of controll...

Magnetotactic bacteria and magnetosomes.

uncultured magnetotactic bacteria

Magnetotactic bacteria produce magnetic crystals in organelles called magnetosomes. The bacterial cells may also have phosphorus-containing granules, sulfur globules, or polyhydroxyalkanoate inclusions. In the present study, the ultrastructure and elemental composition of intracellular inclusions from uncultured magnetotactic bacteria collected in a marine environment are described. Magnetosome...

Magnetite in freshwater magnetotactic bacteria.

A previously undescribed magnetotactic spirillum isolated from a freshwater swamp was mass cultured in the magnetic as well as the nonmagnetic state in chemically defined culture media. Results of Mossbauer spectroscopic analysis applied to whole cells identifies magnetite as a constituent of these magnetic bacteria.