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QLK3-2002-01967
Silicon biotechnology: Biofabrication of nanostructured silica and use of enzymes involved in metabolism of biogenic silica in industry and medicine (SILIBIOTEC)
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Nanotechnology
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Quality of Life - 3. The Cell Factory
| Type of Project |
Shared Cost Research |
| Contract No |
QLK3-2002-01967 |
| Total Cost |
|
| EC Contribution |
1,050,398 EUR |
| Start Date |
01-10-2002 |
| Duration |
36 Months |
Abstract
The main goal of this project is to develop new routes for the structure-controlled biofabrication
of silica nanostructure materials for biosensors, biomedical uses and bio-semiconductors by
diatoms and siliceous sponges, and for the industrial and medical application of the enzymes involved
in synthesis and dissolution of biogenic silica. This project has become possible as a result of the
discovery of the first silica-synthesising enzyme (silicatein) and special culture conditions of
silica-forming organisms (sponge primmorphs). The goal of this project is to combine the
development of innovative products and processes, with a successful strategy for their commercial
use. To achieve this a small research-based biotechnology firm (SME) has been included in the
consortium that brings together five research groups, working on different areas of diatom, sponge
and plant research.
Objectives
The specific scientific and technical objectives of this project are to:
- identify and characterise the genes and enzymatic/biochemical processes involved
in the synthesis and dissolution of biogenic silica.
- elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in structural control of biogenic nanostructered
silica.
- prepare enzymatically active recombinant enzymes involved in the synthesis and dissolution
of biogenic silica.
- use the recombinant enzymes and cell cultures for the production of tailor-made silicas for
industrial and medical applications.
- develop in vitro marine sponge cell culture-based bioprocesses and bioreactors for
biofabrication of nanostructured silica with controlled shape, size and functional properties.
- develop novel strategies for treatment of silicosis (mouse model).
Activities
Activities include:
- analysis of the precursors and intermediates, and proteins controlling the synthesis,
dissolution and structure of biogenic silica.
- identification and characterisation of silica-dependent genes encoding enzymes for synthesis
and dissolution of biogenic silica from marine sponges by differential display technology.
- preparation of the enzymatically active, recombinant enzymes from sponges.
- model studies of biosilicification using extracts from sponges and diatoms.
- elucidation of the (bio)chemical composition of the diatom's silica deposition vesicle during the
course of valve morphogenesis.
- investigatation of the controlling factors including physical, chemical and biological for the
manipulation of the fabrication of specific nanostructures.
- optimisation of the culture conditions for maximising the yield and productivity in biofabrication
of tailor-made silica nanostructures.
- model studies of silica and siloxane production in the presence of these extracts and their
characterisation by a wide range of structural and spectroscopic methods.
- use of gene chips with immobilised oligonucleotide probes for detection of expression
of genes encoding silica synthesising/ dissolving enzymes.
- biomimetics of diatom biomineralization using bio(macro)molecules to design new types
of silicas.
- determination of the suitable sponge and diatom species and development of the in vitro
primmorph cultures for the biofabrication of nanostructured silica.
- investigatation of the nutrient requirements and culture kinetics of in vitro primmorph
cultures for biofabrication of nanostructured silica.
- evaluation of the possibility for the in situ biofabrication of high-performance
silicon/silica-based
nanostructures.
- use of mouse model to investigate the effects of silica dependent enzymes in different
formulations
(liposomes and microspheres) for treatment of silicosis.
Deliverables
The innovative technologies to be developed in this project will be exploited by a high tech
SME partner:
- biomedicine (new approaches for treatment of silicosis): development of microsphere
carriers for the recombinant silica forming/dissoluting enzymes to test them in mouse model
of silicosis.
- nanobiotechnology: identification of user groups interested in the technological
application of the recombinant enzymes and tailored silica nanostructures produced in
bioreactor system.
Contacts
Coordinator
Participant
