On the incorporation of functionalities into hydroxyapatite capsules

Area of Science:

• Biomimetic materials science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemical engineering

Background:

• Nature synthesizes advanced materials with tailored properties under ambient conditions.
• Biomineralization offers a blueprint for creating functional materials.
• Controlling material properties at the nanoscale is crucial for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for creating hollow mineral capsules using biomineralization principles.
• To demonstrate precise control over capsule size and properties.
• To explore the potential of these capsules for applications like drug transport and microreactors.

Main Methods:

• Stabilizing oil/water emulsions with hydrophobin protein.
• Mineralizing the emulsion using it as a liquid template.
• Incorporating additives (complexing agents, surfactants, different cations) to modify mineral properties.
• Automating the process and using phosphatases to reduce synthesis time.
• Including silver to impart antibacterial properties and demonstrate metal inclusion.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized hollow mineral capsules with controlled sizes.
• Demonstrated the ability to tailor mineral properties through additives and cation choice.
• Showcased the inclusion of silver for potential antibacterial properties.
• Achieved accelerated synthesis times through automation and enzyme use.

Conclusions:

• The developed system offers a flexible and adaptable platform for creating functional hollow mineral capsules.
• The method mimics natural biomineralization for controlled material synthesis.
• Potential applications include drug delivery systems and microreactors due to their tunable properties and included functionalities.