title: Aqueous phase synthesis of copper nanoparticles: a link between heavy metal resistance and nanoparticle synthesis ability in bacterial systems.
abstract: We demonstrate aqueous phase biosynthesis of phase-pure metallic copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using a silver resistant bacterium Morganella morganii. This is particularly important considering that there has been no report that demonstrates biosynthesis and stabilization of pure copper nanoparticles in the aqueous phase. Electrochemical analysis of bacterial cells exposed to Cu(2+) ions provides new insights into the mechanistic aspect of Cu(2+) ion reduction within the bacterial cell and indicates a strong link between the silver and copper resistance machinery of bacteria in the context of metal ion reduction. The outcomes of this study take us a step closer towards designing rational strategies for biosynthesis of different metal nanoparticles using microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory-NBRL, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: O'Mullane
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Smooker
authors.forename: Suresh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.forename: Vipul
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bansal
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D020613:Morganella morganii / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012834:Silver; D003300:Copper