Formation of Core-Shell Nanoparticles Composed of Magnetite and Samarium Oxide in Magnetospirillum magneticum Strain RSS-1

PLoS One. 2017 Jan 26;12(1):e0170932. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170932. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) synthesize magnetosomes composed of membrane-enveloped magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) particles in the cells. Recently, several studies have shown some possibilities of controlling the biomineralization process and altering the magnetic properties of magnetosomes by adding some transition metals to the culture media under various environmental conditions. Here, we successfully grow Magnetospirillum magneticum strain RSS-1, which are isolated from a freshwater environment, and find that synthesis of magnetosomes are encouraged in RSS-1 in the presence of samarium and that each core magnetic crystal composed of magnetite is covered with a thin layer of samarium oxide (Sm2O3). The present results show some possibilities of magnetic recovery of transition metals and synthesis of some novel structures composed of magnetic particles and transition metals utilizing MTB.

MeSH terms

  • Ferrosoferric Oxide / analysis*
  • Magnetosomes / chemistry*
  • Magnetospirillum*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Oxides / analysis*
  • Samarium / analysis*

Substances

  • Oxides
  • Samarium
  • samarium oxide
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide

Grants and funding

This study was supported by S1101017, grant for the Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private Universities, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan, http://www.mext.go.jp/en/.