Abstract
Results from a study of the chemical composition and micro-structural characteristics of bacterial magnetosomes extracted from the magnetotactic bacterial strain Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense are presented here. Using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy combined with selected-area electron diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, biogenic magnetite particles isolated from mature cultures were analysed for variations in crystallinity and particle size, as well as chain character and length. The analysed crystals showed a narrow size range (∼44-67 nm) with an average diameter of 46±6.8 nm, cuboctahedral morphologies and typical Gamma type crystal size distributions. The magnetite particles exhibited a high chemical purity (exclusively Fe3O4) and the majority fall within the single-magnetic-domain range.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Mineralogical Magazine |
Volume | 72 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 333-336 |
Number of pages | 4 |
ISSN | 0026-461X |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |