Mineralization of flagella for nanotube formation

Flagella isolated from Salmonella typhimurium were used as a template for the formation of TiO2 nanotubes, which was accomplished through recent advances in low temperature ceramic film processing. TiO2 is precipitated onto or attracted to the flagellar surface in aqueous solution. The mechanism of mineral film formation is similar to that of biominerals in nacre, sea urchin spine, and sponge spicule. This process is advantageous over other mineralization processes, as no genetic modification of the flagella is necessary and the mineralization is done at low temperature in aqueous solution.