Controlling nanostructures of mesoporous silica fibers by supramolecular assembly of genetically modifiable bacteriophages.
A useful virus: The synthesis of a new family of mesoporous silica fibers is reported. Monodisperse filamentous bacteriophages self-assembled into highly ordered hexagonal lattices that were used as templates for the formation of silica nanostructures. Removal of the bacteriophage assembly through calcination led to the formation of mesoporous silica fibers with pore structures precisely defined by the bacteriophage assembly (see picture).
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, OK 73019-5251, USA. cbmao@ou.edu
Chuanbin
C
Mao
Fuke
F
Wang
Binrui
B
Cao
D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016062:Porosity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D012822:Silicon Dioxide