The objectives of this project are:

To generate novel metal oxide nanocomposite materials, based on marine metal-oxide forming enzymes / proteins. Enzymatically active marine bacterial multicopper oxidase (MCO) and a sponge laccase, which catalyze the oxidation of Mn(II) to Mn(IV), shall be immobilized on magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles to enzymatically fabricate core-shell materials.
To apply both enzymes in combination with silica or other metal oxide-forming proteins (recombinant silicatein and silintaphin-1) to generate nanoparticles containing multiple shells of various materials.
To use these core-shell nanoparticles in drug delivery, removal of heavy metals from contaminated environments (remediation) and antifouling applications.

The specific objectives are:

To produce enzymatically active Mn(II)-oxidizing protein (bacterial multicopper oxidase and sponge laccase).
To immobilize the Mn(II)-oxidizing enzyme on magnetic iron oxide nano- particles to enzymatically fabricate MnO₂-containing core-shell materials.
To use the immobilized Mn(II)-oxidizing enzyme in combination with recombinant silicatein and/or silintaphin-1 to generate magnetic iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles containing alternating layers of multiple metal oxides.
To apply the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles containing the immobilized Mn(II)-oxidizing enzyme for enrichment of manganese from manganese poor solutions and scavenging heavy metals.
To develop a novel filtration device based on coccolith-mediated oxidation of Mn(II) for remediation of seawater containing increased manganese levels following algal blooms.
To use the MnO₂-containing core-shell nanoparticles as drug carriers for potential applications in nanomedicine, and for antifouling applications.