Kurzfassung

There is increasing interest in novel hierarchically structured materials in material sciences and nanotechnology. Siliceous sponges are a unique in their ability to form biosilica structures with complex architectures using an enzyme-mediated mechanism. Recent results show that organic material (protein) is embedded in the inorganic silica phase whose composite structure has to be elucidated. The availability of the enzymes involved in silica formation (silicateins) and their self-assembly...There is increasing interest in novel hierarchically structured materials in material sciences and nanotechnology. Siliceous sponges are a unique in their ability to form biosilica structures with complex architectures using an enzyme-mediated mechanism. Recent results show that organic material (protein) is embedded in the inorganic silica phase whose composite structure has to be elucidated. The availability of the enzymes involved in silica formation (silicateins) and their self-assembly properties will allow us – following a biomimetic approach – to simulate the unique synthetic ability of nature for the design and manufacture of new hierarchically structured materials with unusual property combinations. The goal of this joint project with Prof. Dr. W. Tremel (Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry) is to study and to characterize the complex inorganic-organic architecture of the skeletal elements (spicules) of sponges to be used as a biomimetic model. The role of the fractal mechanism of self-assembly of silicatein molecules in the formation of defined (species-specific) 3D structures will be elucidated. The function-form-relationship used by nature to achieve the unique combination of excellent mechanical and optical (light transmitting) properties of sponge spicules will be investigated and - based on the isolated components - novel synthetic nanocomposite materials will be generated.» weiterlesen» einklappen