Regulation of silica morphology by proteins serving as a template for mineralization

The fabrication of inorganic materials under the control of biopolymers is a research field of tremendous interest because in diatoms and sponges the specific proteins direct the formation of silica at ambient conditions that have highly organized structure at multiple length scales and properties that the material scientists can only aspire to achieve. Here it is demonstrated by using a novel biocompatible precursor that common proteins – albumin, caseins and gelatin – can mediate formation of hybrid nanocomposite materials through catalyzing the sol–gel processes and templating silica generated in situ. Serving as the template, the proteins provide a unique opportunity to regulate the silica morphology and properties by means of a change of their secondary and tertiary structure through pH and temperature.