Synthesis and interaction of metal oxide nanostructures and topological insulating materials with biomolecules

Abstract

Biomolecules are useful for the green synthesis, stabilization, and mediation of the redox processes of metallic nanostructures, oxides, and materials with properties of topological insulators. Previous studies conducted by our group has shown two types of interactions of biomolecules with nanostructures. The redox center of cytochrome C, ferroprotoporphyrin IX, can act as electron acceptor of semiconductors such as TiO2, Fe3O4, and ZnO photoexcited. Also, ²-glycosidases enzymes are efficient as the AgX crystalline growth targeting template, X being a halide as Cl, I and Br, without loss of enzymatic activity. Also, we have observed that tomato extracts (Solanum lycopersicum; Solanaceae) produce gold nanoparticles together with nanostructured magnetite, only with the addition of gold salt. We believe that the tomato ferritin provides the material for the synthesis of magnetite with some catalytic contribution of the gold nanoparticles. In this project, the objectives will be to characterize the interaction and redox processes between cytochrome C and porphyrins with Fe3O4 and ZnO modulated by pH, isotopic replacement of water, and structural organization of iron oxide. Also, to characterize the formation process of nanocrystalline magnetite by ferritin with gold nanoparticle mediation and to synthesize and characterize the synthesis of Bi2Se3 using different proteins such as ²-glycosidases and other proteins and peptides with promising structures. All these processes are related to the phenomena of interfaces involving hydration, zeta potential, interactions of organic molecules with inorganic surfaces, crystalline growth, and organization, and electron transfer. Surface interactions with ZnO and topological insulators are feasible from a theoretical approach through collaboration with other researchers involved in the project. The project will result in publications in impact journals and possibly patents. (AU)