Magnetotactic bacteria used to generate electricity based on Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction

Abstract

This study provides proof-of-concept of electromagnetic induction using magnetosomes or magnetotactic bacteria in an experimental setup based on the law of Faraday. The concept of using these bacteria or their biomineralized magnetic nanoparticles as a biological alternative in low voltage electricity generation has the potential to be further explored and developed.

Applications of Magnetotactic Bacteria, Magnetosomes and Magnetosome Crystals in Biotechnology and Nanotechnology: Mini-Review

“…Cells of MTB continue to be tested and evaluated in many novel and sometimes unusual applications. For example, Smit et al (2018) proposed the use of MTB cells for the generation of low voltage electricity based on Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction [ 88 ]. Blondeau et al (2018) showed that magnetosome chain manipulation in silica-encapsulated MTB cells did not affect cell viability thereby increasing the feasibility in functional devices in the future [ 110 ].…”

Magnetic Actuation Methods in Bio/Soft Robotics

“…Living MTB are also used in a variety of application varying from separation of biomolecules, [ 209 ] MRI, [ 210,157 ] detection of biological entities, [ 211 ] hyperthermia therapy, [ 212 ] immunoassays, [ 213 ] drug delivery, [ 155 ] biosensing, [ 214 ] pathogen killing, [ 215,216 ] domain analysis of soft magnetic materials, [ 217 ] waste treatment, [ 218–222 ] electromagnetic induction, [ 223 ] to model for Human CDF‐related type‐II diabetes. [ 224 ]…”

Improved methods for mass production of magnetosomes and applications: a review

“…Other practical applications of magnetosomes includes as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probe or modified with protein for tumor detection [57,58], the tracking of stem cells, dendritic cells and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) [59,60], detection of pathogenic bacteria, viruses [61][62][63] and other immunodetection [64,65], discrimination or recovery of DNA and mRNA [59,[66][67][68], adsorption and mineralization of metals [69][70][71][72][73][74] and known as the powerful tool for chip-based whole-cell biosensors [75]. "Surface display system" of magnetosomes used in immunoassay, enzyme reaction, and cell separation [76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87]. Magnetosomes can also be used as an effective model system to study CDF related II type diabetes [88].…”

“…Magnetosomes can also be used as an effective model system to study CDF related II type diabetes [ 88 ]. Magnetotactic bacteria used to produce electricity and magnetic field induced rotation of magnetosome chains in silicified MTB [ 78 , 89 ]. Thus, availability of high-quality magnetosomes will significantly increase potential applications, and it is therefore highly desirable and important to establish and develop rapid, simple, relatively inexpensive processes for yield cultivation of magnetosomes.…”