Project description
Silica biosynthesis by marine algae
Silica or silicon dioxide is a complex family of materials found in nature as quartz but also in many living organisms. Silica is used in construction materials, microelectronics, in food and pharmaceutical industries. Silica exists in many crystalline forms but in diatom microalgae silica produced by the bio-mineralisation process is hierarchically built tough, bio-compatible material making it an attractive target for nanotechnology. Modern developments in electron microscopy enabling imaging and analysis with nanometer-scale resolution makes possible investigation of the chemical processes inside living organisms. The goal of this EU-funded project is to understand the mechanism of intracellular silica formation by diatoms. Research will study silica formation process in situ using state-of-the-art electron, X-ray imaging and spectroscopy tools. The success of this project will provide access to novel nano-patterned silica bio-materials with numerous promising applications.
Objective
Organisms evolved the ability to form a magnificent array of functional materials, which surpass any man-made product. A prominent example is diatoms, marine microalgae that form an intricate cell-wall made of meso-porous silica. Diatom silica is a tough, hierarchically built, and biocompatible material that is environmentally friendly and cheap, making it an exciting target for nanotechnology. Nevertheless, the principles of this regulated formation mechanism remain elusive.
A persistent obstacle for elucidating biomineralization processes is the inaccessibility of the cellular environment for structural and chemical investigations. Recently, far-reaching developments in electron microscopy have revolutionized our abilities to investigate chemical processes inside living organisms. It is now becoming feasible to image and analyze, with nanometer-scale resolution, an intracellular mineralization process.
This proposal aims to elucidate the intracellular mechanism of silica formation by diatoms. We will study cells undergoing the silicification process in situ, using a suite of state-of-the-art electron and X-ray imaging and spectroscopy tools. The combination of structural and chemical data will enable us to elucidate:
1) The concentration and stabilization mechanism of transient Si phases in the cell.
2) The nanoscale environment in which silica condensation takes place.
3) Genetic and environmental strategies to engineer the silicification process for designed outcomes.
Diatom silica is a promising material for applications such as photonics, pharmaceuticals, and catalysis, which require hierarchical, high-surface area, nano-materials. The achievements of this project will inspire synthetic methodologies to produce and design nano-patterned silica, and genetically-engineer the biological silicification process to produce custom-made materials.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7610001 Rehovot
Israel
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.