Synthetic inorganic materials by mimicking biomineralization processes using native and non-native protein functions

Nature is able to produce various inorganic structures with very specific fine structures in the micro- and nano-regime, which are facilitated and controlled by protein-based systems. Enzymes like silicateines catalyse biomineralization and provide organisms with exoskeletons with specific material properties. While these structures are interesting materials in biology, they also offer ample opportunities for material scientists to create man-made materials with the same biological species in a non-natural setting. While natural organisms rely on specific proteins for certain processes, other more accessible proteins show similar capabilities even though it is not their native function. Mimicking biomineralization provides a route for the formation of new materials of various shapes and compositions. In this article, synthetic processes and the resulting materials will be discussed, describing the tools and bio-inspired systems used and comparing the original biological function of the protein to its role in the non-natural process.