01713nas a2200205   4500008004100000022001400041245005700055210005600112260011000168300001400278490000700292520099100299100001801290700002501308700001901333700001701352700001901369700003001388856008901418       2008                        eng d  a0959-942800aBacterial synthesis of silicon/silica nanocomposites0 aBacterial synthesis of siliconsilica nanocomposites  aTHOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLANDbROYAL SOC CHEMISTRYcAPR  a2601-26060 v183 a<p>The synthesis of silicon/silica nanoparticle composites by the bacterium Actinobacter sp. is demonstrated. More specifically, the formation of silicon/silica nanocomposite is shown to occur when the bacterium is exposed to K(2)SiF(6) precursor under ambient conditions. Based on the earlier reports where this bacterium has been shown to synthesize iron oxide and iron sulfide nanoparticles, it is hypothesized that this bacterium secretes reductases and oxidising enzymes, which lead to the Si/SiO(2) nanocomposite synthesis. The particles obtained by bacterial synthesis were thoroughly characterized. The cytotoxicity studies revealed that the particles do not display any cytotoxicity to human skin cells. The synthesis of silica nanoparticles by bacteria in the present study demonstrates the versatility of the organism, and the formation of elemental silicon by this environmentally friendly process expands further the scope of microorganism based nanomaterial synthesis.</p>1 aSingh, Sanjay1 aBhatta, Umananda, M.1 aSatyam, P., V.1 aDhawan, Alok1 aSastry, Murali1 aPrasad, Bhagavatula L. V.  uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/bacterial-synthesis-siliconsilica-nanocomposites-0