Silica, the most abundant compound in the earth's crust, is also widespread in biological
systems. Silica has many functions, including support and protection in single-celled …

Ubiquitous presence of cyanobacteria even under extreme conditions since millions of years
is due to their ease in adaptability to these environments through various cellular and …

Extracellularpolysaccharides of bacteria contribute to biofilm formation, stress tolerance, and
infectivity. Cyanobacteria, the oxygenic photoautotrophic bacteria, uniquely produce sulfated …

Biosilicification is the process by which organisms incorporate soluble, monomeric silicic
acid, Si (OH) 4, in the form of polymerized insoluble silica, SiO2. Biosilicifying eukaryotes …

Diatoms have the peculiarity to synthesize amorphous silica around the cell wall. Frustules
(empty silica shells) have the advantages of being biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic …

Cyanobacteria are a very particular group of photoautotrophic prokaryotic organisms with
major ecological significance in the carbon and nitrogen cycles. Most cyanobacterial strains …

Bioencapsulation in silica gels has become a very popular field of research, leading to the
design of biosensors and bioreactors. If pure silica gels appear suitable to maintain the …

Many plant systems accumulate silica in solid form, creating intracellular or extracellular
silica bodies (phytoliths) that are essential for growth, mechanical strength, rigidity, predator …

There is a groundswell of interest in applying phototrophic microorganisms, specifically
microalgae and cyanobacteria, for biotechnology and ecosystem service applications …

The degree of complexity and hierarchical structure displayed by biomineralized composites
has never been matched in artificial materials, as a diverse range of biological organisms …