Creation of energetic biothermite inks using ferritin liquid protein

Abstract

Energetic liquids function mainly as fuels due to low energy densities and slow combustion kinetics. Consequently, these properties can be significantly increased through the addition of metal nanomaterials such as aluminium. Unfortunately, nanoparticle additives are restricted to low mass fractions in liquids because of increased viscosities and severe particle agglomeration. Nanoscale protein ionic liquids represent multifunctional solvent systems that are well suited to overcoming low mass fractions of nanoparticles, producing stable nanoparticle dispersions and simultaneously offering a source of oxidizing agents for combustion of reactive nanomaterials. Here, we use iron oxide-loaded ferritin proteins to create a stable and highly energetic liquid composed of aluminium nanoparticles and ferritin proteins for printing and forming 3D shapes and structures. In total, this bioenergetic liquid exhibits increased energy output and performance, enhanced dispersion and oxidation stability, lower activation temperatures, and greater processability and functionality.

Probing the Reaction Zone of Nanolaminates at ∼μs Time and ∼μm Spatial Resolution

“…Employing nanomaterials in thermites increases the interfacial surface area between the fuel and oxidizer and thus decreases the diffusion distances, resulting in faster reactions and energy release rates. Using nanomaterials in energetics has increased burn rates from mm/s to m/s and even km/s in some cases. − To obtain a high interfacial contact area between the fuel and oxidizer, different approaches such as ultrasonication, electrospraying/electrospinning, − mechanical milling, − self-assembly (static electricity-based, ligand-based, , sol–gel synthesis, DNA-based assembly), , and recently 3D printing − have been explored with varying levels of success. An alternative approach to creating high-density, high interface surface area composites in thermites is by fabrication of nanolaminate structures through physical vapor deposition (PVD).…”

Examining cellular responses to reconstituted antibody protein liquids

“…Briefly, the immunoblotting format involved immobilizing apoferritin on a nitrocellulose membrane, blocking membrane with BSA, incubating with reconstituted Anti-horse spleen ferritin ionic liquid sample, washing, incubating with a goat Anti-rabbit secondary antibody conjugated with alkaline phosphatase, and developing immunoblot with colorimetric substrate. As a result, the immunoblot confirmed that antigen binding of Anti-horse spleen ferritin antibodies was not affected by converting antibodies into IgG-ILs as observed by detection of apoferritin at low pM concentrations; however, more rigorous binding, thermal stability, and shelf-life studies are ongoing 6 .…”

“…cationization and complexation with anions) on the biorecognition function of the Ig. To test binding, an anti-horse spleen ferritin IgG-IL liquid was incubated with an apoferritin target via an immunoblotting assay (Supplementary Figure 1 ) 6 . Briefly, the immunoblotting format involved immobilizing apoferritin on a nitrocellulose membrane, blocking membrane with BSA, incubating with reconstituted Anti-horse spleen ferritin ionic liquid sample, washing, incubating with a goat Anti-rabbit secondary antibody conjugated with alkaline phosphatase, and developing immunoblot with colorimetric substrate.…”

3D Printing of Micro‐Architected Al/CuO‐Based Nanothermite for Enhanced Combustion Performance

“…Therefore, they have been adopted in a wide range of military and civil applications, for instance, in combustion agents and electronic device destruction . In general, the combustion properties of nanothermites are mainly dependent on: 1) the choice of metal fuel, oxidizer, and/or binder, 2) partical size and appearance/shape of the nanothermites, and 3) processing method . To date, a series of nanothermites have been prepared and studied .…”