Highest levels of Cu, Mn and Co doped into nanomagnetic magnetosomes through optimized biomineralisation

Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize pure morphologically precise nano-magnetite crystals called magnetosomes. Doping magnetosomes varies their magnetic properties, making them very promising nanomaterials. Here we present the highest doping of Co2+ (3.0%), Mn2+ (2.7%) and Cu2+ (15.6%) into magnetosomes in vivo. Most significantly, the first report of Cu-doping in magnetite magnetosomes and the highest metal doped into magnetosomes recorded. A 2-fold increase is recorded for Mn and Co doping over previous reports.