About This Project

Making gold nanoparticles (AuNP) is both costly and dangerous. AuNP are used in many areas of modern technology, ranging from high precision electronics to cancer imaging and therapies. Due to their targeted aggregation and biosafety, they exhibit impressive properties improving a variety of medical technologies. By using algae to accrue gold and then pack it into nanoparticles, we can avoid the issues with their development, while attempting to maintain medical quality.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

AuNPs are used in many areas of technology, from high precision electronics to cancer therapies. They also require a significant amount of processing to be formed.Biosynthesis can replace these methods, due to being easier to run while also environmentally and ethically responsible. Biosynthesis utilizes organic systems to develop and alter material properties, allowing for an alternative to complex and harmful infrastructure used in common material fabrication. We can integrate with currently existing biological systems to accelerate development while mitigating side effects. This process is already possible for AuNPs, albeit poorly understood. Since our understanding is still incomplete, there is room for exploration and potential discovery.

What is the significance of this project?

Gold nanoparticles are an emerging technology which exhibit great promise in a range of medical diagnostic and treatment applications. However research and adoption are often limited by the high cost of nanoparticle production and the toxicity of capping agents required for chemical synthesis methods. This project aims to develop a library of organisms and protocols which can produce monodisperse nanoparticles in a range of shapes and sizes tailored to a variety of applications, while avoiding the precise reaction conditions, contamination, and subsequent characterization expenses associated with existing production methods.

What are the goals of the project?

We aim to develop a process that creates medical grade AuNP. We will use directed evolution to increase reaction rate and a resistance to the conditions of mine waste, our primary target. Next, the bioreactors are doped with gold, processed ,and the product amounts tallied. This allows us to finalize our design, developing a process with less toxicity and a reduction of work in.

Success is measured via quantification of AuNP, initially using visual cues, the SEM, and the XRD. The materials are tested in situ and in vitro on site, and also sent to various labs to confirm particles meet the standard for medical applications.