Immobilization of stable thylakoid vesicles in conductive nanofibers by electrospinning.
Electrospun fibers consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) have been used to successfully encapsulate and stabilize thylakoid membrane vesicles isolated from spinach. Light-driven electronic properties were measured. Fibers with immobilized thylakoids show higher electrical conductivity compared with fibers without thylakoids under white light conditions. This is attributed to the electron-generating photosynthetic reactions from the thylakoids. Electron and optical microscopy show the presence of thylakoid vesicles within the fibers using lipid-specific stains. After electrospinning into fibers, the thylakoid vesicles still exhibit an ability to produce a light-driven electron gradient, indicating that activity is preserved during the electrospinning process. These electrospun fibers provide an excellent example of incorporating photosynthetic function into an artificial system.
Nanoelectronics Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0030, USA.
Nicholas M
NM
Bedford
G Douglas
GD
Winget
Srikoundinya
S
Punnamaraju
Andrew J
AJ
Steckl
D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry; D018914:Cells, Immobilized; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004579:Electron Transport; D008027:Light; D057139:Nanofibers; D010788:Photosynthesis; D011108:Polymers; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020524:Thylakoids / Q000502:physiology*
D002214:Capsules; D011108:Polymers