Water Drop on Water-Repellent <em>Streptomyces</em> Bacteria (IMAGE)
Caption
The cell surface of a common soil bacteria (Streptomyces sp.) is not only hydrophobic but it protects the organism from desiccation and therefore the movement of water across the cell barrier.
Swansea University researchers extracted this biomaterial and dissolved it to create a protein solution that would self-assemble along hydrophobic / hydrophilic interfaces. Using this property, they were able to coat steel products and produce a robust protein coating that was less than 10 metronomes thick, able to withstand boiling and freezing and to reduce the potential for corrosion.
Credit
Swansea University
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