Multifunctional layered magnetic composites

• Maria Siglreitmeier,
• Baohu Wu,
• Tina Kollmann,
• Martin Neubauer,
• Gergely Nagy,
• Dietmar Schwahn,
• Vitaliy Pipich,
• Damien Faivre,
• Dirk Zahn,
• Andreas Fery and
• Helmut Cölfen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 134–148, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.13

• Potsdam, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.6.13 Abstract A fabrication method of a multifunctional hybrid material is achieved by using the insoluble organic nacre matrix of the Haliotis laevigata shell infiltrated with gelatin as a confined reaction environment. Inside this organic scaffold magnetite nanoparticles

• that are found in hard coatings or in the field of construction. We used the organic nacre matrix of the shell Haliotis laevigata, which is insoluble in acetic acid, as a confined reaction environment. Within this organic matrix we infiltrated gelatin to mimic the silk gel precursor inside the chitin

• to the matrix, which might derive from the usage of staining media or dehydration. For comparison studies, the structure of the original nacre matrix (Haliotis laevigata) was analyzed as well. Figure 2 represents very-small (VSANS) and small (SANS) angle neutron scattering profiles of nacre (top) and

Hairy suckers: the surface microstructure and its possible functional significance in the Octopus vulgaris sucker

• Francesca Tramacere,
• Esther Appel,
• Barbara Mazzolai and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 561–565, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.66

• structures observed in the fish are quite similar in size and aspect ratio to the hairs described here in the octopus sucker. In addition, the sole foot epithelium of abalone Haliotis tuberculata is characterised by a dense field of long hairs, here called cilia, that measure 0.2–0.3 µm in diameter [6]. In

Detection of interaction between biomineralising proteins and calcium carbonate microcrystals

• Hanna Rademaker and
• Malte Launspach

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 222–227, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.26

• extracted from nacre of Haliotis laevigata. After incubation the mineral phase was dissolved and investigated for attached proteins. The results give a hint of one protein that seems to bind specifically to aragonite and not to calcite. The presented protocol seems to be suitable to detect mineral binding

• proteins quickly and therefore can point to proteins whose mineral binding capabilities should be investigated further. Keywords: biomineralisation; biomineralising proteins; Haliotis; nacre; protein–mineral interaction; Introduction Biological synthesised materials from various organisms such as

• formation. Recently, Suzuki and co-workers [1] described an assay to detect whether a protein binds to aragonite or calcite microcrystals specifically. Here, we wish to report how to modify the protocol given by Suzuki et al. and apply it to a mixture of soluble proteins extracted from nacre from Haliotis