| Summary: | Background: Iron based ferromagnetic nanoparticles (IONP) have found a wide range of application in microelectronics, chemotherapeutic cell targeting, and as contrast enhancers in MRI. As such, the design of well-defend mono-disperse IONPs is crucial to ensure effectiveness in these applications. Although these nano structures are currently manufactured using chemical and physical processes, these methods are not environmentally conducive and weigh heavily on energy and outlays. Certain microorganisms have the innate ability to reduce metallic ions in aqueous solution and generate nano-sized IONP’s with narrow size distribution. Harnessing this potential is a way forward in constructing microbial nano factories, capable of churning out high yields of well-defend IONP’s with physico-chemical characteristics on par with the synthetically produced ones. Results: In this work, we report the molecular characterization of an actinomycetes, isolated from tropical freshwater wetlands sediments, that demonstrated rapid aerobic extracellular reduction of ferric ions to generate iron based nanoparticles. Characterization of these nanoparticles was carried out using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM–EDX), Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscope (FETEM), Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) Spectrophotometer, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy (FTIR). This process was carried out at room temperature and humidity and under aerobic conditions
and could be developed as an environmental friendly, cost efective bioprocess for the production of IONP’s.
Conclusion: While it is undeniable that iron reducing microorganisms confer a largely untapped resource as potent nanofactories, these bio processes are largely anaerobic and hampered by the low reaction rates, highly stringent microbial cultural conditions and poly dispersed nano-structures. In this work, the novel isolate demonstrated rapid, aerobic reduction of ferric ions in its extracellular matrix, resulting in IONPs of relatively narrow size distribution which are easily extracted and purified without the need for convoluted procedures. It is therefore hoped that this isolate could be potentially developed as an effective nano factory in the future.
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