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Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Listeria innocua Dps (DNA‐Binding Protein from Starved Cells): A Study with the Wild‐Type Protein and a Catalytic Centre Mutant
Author(s) -
Ceci Pierpaolo,
Chiancone Emilia,
Kasyutich Oksana,
Bellapadrona Giuliano,
Castelli Lisa,
Fittipaldi Maria,
Gatteschi Dante,
Innocenti Claudia,
Sangregorio Claudio
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200901138
Subject(s) - superparamagnetism , nanoparticle , magnetic nanoparticles , iron oxide nanoparticles , chemistry , catalysis , high resolution transmission electron microscopy , chemical engineering , materials science , crystallography , nanotechnology , transmission electron microscopy , magnetization , biochemistry , magnetic field , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
A comparative analysis of the magnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles grown in the cavity of the D NA‐binding p rotein from s tarved cells of the bacterium Listeria innocua , LiDps , and of its triple‐mutant lacking the catalytic ferroxidase centre, LiDps‐tm , is presented. TEM images and static and dynamic magnetic and electron magnetic resonance (EMR) measurements reveal that, under the applied preparation conditions, namely alkaline pH, high temperature (65 °C), exclusion of oxygen, and the presence of hydrogen peroxide, maghemite and/or magnetite nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 3 nm are mineralised inside the cavities of both LiDps and LiDps‐tm . The magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) thus formed show similar magnetic properties, with superparamagnetic behaviour above 4.5 K and a large magnetic anisotropy. Interestingly, in the EMR spectra an absorption at half‐field is observed, which can be considered as a manifestation of the quantum behaviour of the MNPs. These results indicate that Dps proteins can be advantageously used for the production of nanomagnets at the interface between molecular clusters and traditional MNPs and that the presence of the ferroxidase centre, though increasing the efficiency of nanoparticle formation, does not affect the nature and fine structure of the MNPs. Importantly, the self‐organisation of MNP‐containing Dps on HRTEM grids suggests that Dps ‐enclosed MNPs can be deposited on surfaces in an ordered fashion.