Here we report the biomimetic architectural assembly of clay nanotube/polymer shells on yeast and microalgae cells producing viable artificial hybrid inorganic-cellular structures termed �nanotube-carrier cells�. The nanotube/polymer-modified cells were preserved for one generation resulting in the intact second generation of cells with delayed germination.  We demonstrate a possibility to encapsulate microorganisms with biocompatible clay nanotubes capable to carry load of drugs and nutrition for cell growth enhancement. Importantly, these clay-armoured cells preserved their viability. Nanotube-carrier cells we used to investigate the toxicity of halloysite nanotubes using Caenorhabtidis elegans microworms. In addition, by decomposing these biocell microtemplates we produced ceramic tubule nanocomposite porous microcapsules mimicking shape and size of cells. Halloysite/polymers-coated cells may find a number of practical applications, i.e. as templates for fabrication of microcapsules and as versatile nanocoating on living cells significantly improving the intrinsic properties of living microbial cells.

Nanotube-carrier cells: Polymer-mediated assembly of clay nanotubes on living microorganisms

245th National Meeting (2013)

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