Inspired by the diatoms, a type of algae dubbed 鈥楴ature鈥檚 nanotechnologists鈥�, Dr Paul Curnow from the University鈥檚 has been awarded the prestigious (ERC)-funded grant to understand how diatom cells manipulate silica to coat themselves in an intricate outer sheath of clear glass.
Dr Curnow is already working with colleagues 吃瓜网 to study a unique set of diatom proteins that recognise and transport soluble silica. The ERC grant, one of only 30 such grants awarded to UK bioscientists in 2011, will enable him to use these proteins to create a synthetic diatom that can behave as a novel 鈥榥anoreactor鈥� for the controlled synthesis of functional silicon nanomaterials.
Dr Curnow, Research Fellow, said: 鈥淒iatoms have found a way of controlling silica at the nanoscale that is very sophisticated and is far beyond what we can achieve in the lab. Learning the secrets of these remarkable cells should enable us to make new catalysts, sensors, diagnostic devices and medical imaging tools.鈥�
Nanotechnology is the study of materials and processes that occur at nanometre length scales, typically around 100,000 times smaller than a millimetre. At this miniscule size, many materials exhibit unusual properties that are commercially valuable. The global market for nanotechnology products is expected to be worth $1,000 billion by 2015.