Researchers Develop New Method for Making Inorganic Catalytic Nanoparticles

University of Arkansas / University Relations

Imann Mosleh

Chemical engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed a method to synthesize inorganic nanoparticles using inhomogenous, or impure, biomaterials, a process that could decrease the cost of pharmaceutical production.

The new approach circumvents the need for expensive peptide purification from protein sources and thus challenges the conventional method for producing bio-templated nanoparticles. Used for making molecules for pharmaceuticals, the biological nanoparticles also have catalytic properties for potential use in the production of ammonia and other industrial chemicals.

"The major question we answered was the necessity of purity of peptides used for nanoparticle preparation," said Imann Mosleh, doctoral student and graduate research assistant in the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering. "Our results showed that the level of purity did not affect the nanoparticle growth."

Inspired by biological systems that order structures naturally, Mosleh fused a peptide called Pd4 to an active protein, Green Fluorescent Protein, to prepare palladium nanoparticles. Testing and subsequent characterization confirmed synthesis of a highly ordered material that could be used in lieu of an expensive pure peptide.

"We showed that the synthesized nanoparticles went through the same nucleation and growth pathway as pure peptide nanoparticles," Mosleh said.

The method developed by Mosleh could lead to the production of biologically inhomogenous and unpurified, protein-templated nanomaterials at two orders of magnitude less that the cost of convention methods.

Mosleh conducted the research as his dissertation project for a doctorate in chemical engineering. His advisor was Bob Beitle, professor of chemical engineering and associate vice chancellor for research and innovation. The study was published in Materials Letters as a "featured letter."