Print Email Facebook Twitter Using bacteria to make improved, nacre-inspired materials Title Using bacteria to make improved, nacre-inspired materials Author Schmieden, D.T. (TU Delft BN/Anne Meyer Lab) Meyer, A.S. (TU Delft BN/Anne Meyer Lab) Aubin-Tam, M.E. (TU Delft BN/Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam Lab) Date 2016 Abstract Nacre (mother of pearl) is an attractive model for the development of new materials. Its sheet structure of alternating layers of calcium carbonate and an organic matrix confers it highly desirable properties such as high toughness and strength. In this study, we produce a nacre-inspired composite material using only bacterially-produced components. Calcium carbonate is crystallized via the action of ureolytic bacteria. After each crystallization event, we apply bacterially produced γ-polyglutamate (PGA) to the sample, which promotes layering compared to the PGA-free control. We show that the combination of these two compounds yields a layered material reminiscent of nacre, showing a way towards the biotechnological production of new, nacre-inspired materials. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:97358ed7-e459-4d91-a126-7685d902fe99 DOI https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2016.150 Source MRS Advances, 1 (8), 559-564 Bibliographical note Accepted Author Manuscript Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2016 D.T. Schmieden, A.S. Meyer, M.E. Aubin-Tam Files PDF Schmieden_et_al_2016.pdf 382.92 KB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:97358ed7-e459-4d91-a126-7685d902fe99/datastream/OBJ/view