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Nanopatterning of Ferritin Molecules and the Controlled Size Reduction of Their Magnetic Cores
Author(s) -
Martinez Ramsés V.,
Chiesa Marco,
Garcia Ricardo
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201100366
Subject(s) - ferritin , materials science , nanoscopic scale , nanoparticle , etching (microfabrication) , iron oxide , deposition (geology) , nanotechnology , molecule , magnetic core , magnetic nanoparticles , oxide , chemical engineering , iron oxide nanoparticles , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , paleontology , biochemistry , electrical engineering , engineering , layer (electronics) , sediment , electromagnetic coil , biology
Abstract A nanopatterning method to deposit ferritin proteins with nanoscale accuracy over large areas is reported. Selective deposition is driven by the electrostatic interactions existing between the proteins and nanoscale features. Upon deposition, the protein shell can be removed by heating the patterns in an oxygen atmosphere. This leaves exposed the iron oxide core, which can be further reduced in size by plasma‐etching methods. In this way, the initial ferritin molecules, which have a nominal size of 12 nm, are reduced to 2 nm nanoparticles. Magnetic force measurements confirm the magnetic activity of the as‐deposited and etched nanoparticles.