Exploiting the Luminous Properties of Blue-Emitting Silicon Nanoparticles (Si-NPs) Derived from Raw Diatomite in Fungal Biosystems

Abstract

This manuscript introduces a novel biosystem consisting of filamentous fungi and luminescent silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs). The microorganisms were cultivated in a nutrient solution containing Si-NPs, acquiring a dense layer of abiotic material. The biohybrid entities were characterized using a combination of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. Intriguingly, in addition to incorporating Si-NPs into the fungal cell wall, we observed the internalization of these nanoparticles within fungal organelles. Moreover, the apparent crystallite size of the Si-NPs within the fungal biohybrids was notably smaller than that of the synthesized Si-NPs, indicating that, under the cultivation and preparation conditions, microorganisms assimilate smaller Si-NPs more readily than larger ones. Consequently, nanoparticles smaller than 10 nm may permeate the cell wall and be concentrated in vacuoles, as observed by fluorescence microscopy.