Biomimetic Protamine-Templated Silicification

Abstract

Protamine, a small cationic peptide, can act as a biocatalyst and a template for biomimetic silicification, which opens a new and environmentally benign synthetic approach to synthesis of silica and other kinds of inorganic materials. In this chapter, the major advances in the biomimetic protamine-templated silicification and its applications in developing novel silica-based materials will be discussed. Especially, by combination of biomimetic protamine-templated silicification with layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly and/or bioadhesion, multifunctional hybrid capsules can be prepared and their applications in enzyme immobilizations can be realized. This chapter will also highlight some examples of protamine-enabled, low temperature fabrication of titania-based and other inorganic materials. 293 Handbook of Biomimetics and Bioinspiration Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com by UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND on 10/14/14. For personal use only. 294Y. Jiang et al.