Biosynthesis of nanoparticles
AssigneeQueen's University at Kingston
InventorsChad D. Edwards, Daniel D. Lefebvre
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Abstract
This invention provides a method of biosynthesizing nanoparticles and quantum dots. The method may comprise culturing photosynthetic cells and/or fungal cells of a multicellular fungus in a culture medium comprising one or more species of metal in ionic or non-ionic form; and one or more counter elements to the one or more species of metal, or one or more compound comprising one or more counter elements to the one or more species of metal; wherein the cells biosynthesize nanoparticles and quantum dots incorporating the metal. The invention also provides biosynthesized nanoparticles and quantum dots.
Claims21
A method of biosynthesizing a nanoparticle;
- comprising:
- culturing photosynthetic cells under conditions that cause the cells to perform photosynthesis in a culture medium comprising:
- (i) one or more elements of Periodic Table groups 15 and 16, or one or more compounds comprising one or more elements of Periodic Table groups 15 and 16;
- and
- (ii) one or more species of metal in ionic or non-ionic form;
- wherein the cells biosynthesize nanoparticles incorporating the metal.
A method of biosynthesizing a layered nanoparticle;
- comprising:
- (a) culturing photosynthetic cells under conditions that cause the cells to perform photosynthesis in a culture medium comprising:
- (i) one or more elements of Periodic Table groups 15 and 16, or one or more compounds comprising one or more elements of Periodic Table groups 15 and 16;
- and
- (ii) one or more species of metal in ionic or non-ionic form;
- (b) subsequently culturing the cells under conditions that cause the cells to perform photosynthesis in a culture medium comprising:
- (iii) one or more elements of Periodic Table groups 15 and 16, or one or more compounds comprising one or more elements of Periodic Table groups 15 and 16;
- and
- (iv) one or more species of metal in ionic or non-ionic form, wherein at least one species of metal is different from that used in (ii);
- wherein the cells biosynthesize nanoparticles incorporating the metal of (ii) in a first layer and the metal of (iv) in a second layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.