Converting a Natural Protein Compartment into a Nanofactory for the Size-Constrained Synthesis of Antimicrobial Silver Nanoparticles.
Engineered biological systems are used extensively for the production of high value and commodity organics. On the other hand, most inorganic nanomaterials are still synthesized via chemical routes. By engineering cellular compartments, functional nanoarchitectures can be produced under environmentally sustainable conditions. Encapsulins are a new class of microbial nanocompartments with promising applications in nanobiotechnology. Here, we engineer the Thermotoga maritima encapsulin EncTm to yield a designed compartment for the size-constrained synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). These Ag NPs exhibit uniform shape and size distributions as well as long-term stability. Ambient aqueous conditions can be used for Ag NP synthesis, while no reducing agents or solvents need to be added. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized protein-coated or shell-free Ag NPs is superior to that of silver nitrate and citrate-capped Ag NPs. This study establishes encapsulins as an engineerable platform for the synthesis of biogenic functional nanomaterials.
Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.|Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University , Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.
Tobias W
TW
Giessen
Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.|Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University , Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.
Pamela A
PA
Silver
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D004355:Drug Stability; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D020124:Thermotoga maritima / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012834:Silver
biogenic; encapsulin; inorganic nanomaterials; nanobiotechnology; nanocompartment; silver nanoparticles