Trapping polystyrene and latex nanospheres inside hollow nanostructures usingStaphylococcus aureuscells

Abstract

A new methodology was developed to trap polystyrene or latex nanospheres in nanocrystalline nickel columnar nanostructures with various cross-sectional geometries. After filling the column interiors with polystyrene or latex nanospheres with diameters of »300 and 500 nm, respectively, the top openings of these small metallic nanopillars were capped with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacterial cells. High resolution scanning electron microscopy inspection revealed that these bacterial cells were able to cover the top openings of C-shaped pillars within an hour of incubation at 37 C. Results also demonstrated that capping S. aureus adhesive strengths to the nickel structures are greater than the cell wall cohesive strengths.