6533b82dfe1ef96bd1290ac2
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Optical properties of in-vitro biomineralised silica
Xiaohong WangRoberto CingolaniAndrea CamposeoWerner E. G. M�llerAlessandro PoliniHeinz C. SchröderStefano PagliaraDario PisignanoDario Pisignanosubject
Models MolecularFabricationMaterials scienceOptical fiberSiliconProtein ConformationOxidechemistry.chemical_elementNanotechnologyArticlelaw.inventionchemistry.chemical_compoundSponge spiculelawAnimalsFiber Optic TechnologyMultidisciplinarybiologybiology.organism_classificationCathepsinsRecombinant ProteinsSpongechemistryCommon elementGlassRefractive indexdescription
Silicon is the second most common element on the Earth's crust and its oxide (SiO(2)) the most abundant mineral. Silica and silicates are widely used in medicine and industry as well as in micro- and nano-optics and electronics. However, the fabrication of glass fibres and components requires high temperature and non-physiological conditions, in contrast to biosilica structures in animals and plants. Here, we show for the first time the use of recombinant silicatein-α, the most abundant subunit of sponge proteins catalyzing biosilicification reactions, to direct the formation of optical waveguides in-vitro through soft microlithography. The artificial biosilica fibres mimic the natural sponge spicules, exhibiting refractive index values suitable for confinement of light within waveguides, with optical losses in the range of 5-10 cm(-1), suitable for application in lab-on-chips systems. This method extends biosilicification to the controlled fabrication of optical components by physiological processing conditions, hardly addressed by conventional technologies.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-01-01 |