E. coli cells as a source of biohybrid material: electron microscopy and microanalysis study

Authors

  • Sergey Yu. Turishchev ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация
  • Evgenii A. Belikov ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация
  • Elena V. Parinova ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация
  • Daniel Z. Kureshi ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация
  • Olga A. Chuvenkova ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация
  • Vladimir Sivakov Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technologies, Albert Einstein st., 15, Berlin 12489, Germany
  • Sergey S. Antipov ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17308/kcmf.2026.28/13601

Keywords:

клетки E.coli, молекулы белка Dps, суперпродукция белка, биогибридный материал, растровая электронная микроскопия, энергодисперсионный микроанализ, морфология и состав

Abstract

Objectives: The work relates to the research of E.coli cells formed under conditions of superproduction of the bacterioferritin protein Dps. These protein molecules are capable of forming biohybrid structures by accumulating inorganic nanoparticles of the iron-oxygen system with identical properties, including sizes within the nanometer range, in their internal cavities. Current methods of obtaining bacterioferritin Dps protein molecules rely on destroying their source: E.coli cells. A key issue for study and subsequent application is establishing whether it is possible to obtain these protein molecules without destroying E.coli cells in order to form biohybrid structures.

Experimental: E.coli cells were grown under conditions of superproduction of bacterioferritin Dps protein molecules, then deposited on a molybdenum foil substrate for electron microscopy and energy-dispersive microanalysis studies. Based on the resulting data on morphology data and elemental composition, the possibility of forming protein molecules without destroying the cells was investigated in order to create biohybrid structures based on them.

Conclusions: It has been established that under conditions of protein superproduction, E.coli cells produce bacterioferritin Dps molecules, with a significant amount of this protein possibly being released into the extracellular space. The morphology of E.coli cells themselves does not change under conditions of superproduction and protein emission. When Mohr’s salt was added to the culture fluid, the released protein contains a significant amount of iron atoms, which may result from bacterioferritin Dps molecules forming biohybrid structures. These results demonstrate a simple, affordable method of forming biohybrid structures containing iron-oxygen nanoparticles for use in technologies, including the targeted delivery of nanoparticles and the functionalization of accessible surfaces

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Author Biographies

  • Sergey Yu. Turishchev, ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация

    Dr. Sci. (Phys.-Math.), Associate Professor, Head of the General Physics and Physical Materials Science Department, Voronezh State University (Voronezh, Russia)

  • Evgenii A. Belikov, ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация

    post graduate student of the General Physics and Physical Materials Science Department, Voronezh State University (Voronezh, Russia)

  • Elena V. Parinova, ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация

    PhD in Physics and Mathematics, Assistant Professor of the General Physics and Physical Materials Science Department, Voronezh State University (Voronezh, Russia)

  • Daniel Z. Kureshi, ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация

    student of the General Physics and Physical Materials Science Department, Voronezh State University (Voronezh, Russia)

  • Olga A. Chuvenkova, ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация

    Cand. Sci. (Phys.-Math.), Senior Researcher, Joint Scientific and Educational Laboratory “Atomic and Electronic Structure of Functional Materials” of Voronezh State University and the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Voronezh State University (Voronezh, Russian Federation)

  • Vladimir Sivakov, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technologies, Albert Einstein st., 15, Berlin 12489, Germany

    PhD, Group Leader, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Jena, Germany)

  • Sergey S. Antipov, ФГБОУ ВО «Воронежский государственный университет», Университетская пл., 1, Воронеж 394018, Российская Федерация

    Dr.Sci. (Biology), Professor, Biophysics and Biotechnology Department, Voronezh State University, Voronezh State University (Voronezh, Russian Federation)

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Published

2026-04-01

Issue

Section

Short communication

How to Cite

E. coli cells as a source of biohybrid material: electron microscopy and microanalysis study. (2026). Kondensirovannye Sredy I Mezhfaznye Granitsy = Condensed Matter and Interphases, 28(1), 153-158. https://doi.org/10.17308/kcmf.2026.28/13601

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