CHAPTER 6: Immobilization of Proteins on Diatom Biosilica

Diatom biosilica is a remarkable biological material. It consists of microparticles that have highly porous and open 3D structures with thin walls and yet exhibit high mechanical stability. The nano- to micrometer sized pores are regularly arranged in a hierarchical fashion, which gives rise to interesting optical properties and allows for rapid mass transport through the material. During the past two decades, it has been realized that the properties of diatom biosilica can be harnessed and further enhanced by introducing inorganic, organic, and biomolecular moieties, which provide key functionalities for diatom nanotechnology. Here we summarize the methods for functionalizing diatom biosilica with proteins and describe the properties and emerging applications of the resulting materials.