Nanotechnology, bionanotechnology and microbial cell factories

Abstract

Nanotechnology is increasingly using both materials and nano-objects synthesized by living beings, most of them produced by microbial cells. Emerging technologies and highly integrative approaches (such as 'omics and systems biology), that have been largely proven successful for the production of proteins and secondary metabolites are now expected to become fully adapted for the improved biological production of nanostructured materials with tailored properties. The so far underestimated potential of microbial cell factories in nanotechnology and nanomedicine is expected to emerge, in the next years, in the context of novel needs envisaged in the nanoscience universe. This should prompt a careful revisiting of the microbial cell factories as the most versatile biological platforms to supply functional materials for nanotechnological applications.

Key findings

• ▸Microbial fuel cells can be improved using nanotechnology and bionanotechnology to increase their power output and reduce their costs.
• ▸The integration of nanomaterials with microbial cell factories can enhance their biocatalytic activity and stability.
• ▸Bionanotechnology can be used to engineer microorganisms to produce specific products, such as biofuels, using microbial fuel cells.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.1186/1475-2859-9-53

PubMed

20602780

Journal

Microbial Cell Factories

Year

2009