Difference between revisions of "Team:TU Delft"

The goal of our microlenses is to increase the fraction of light captured by solar cells and cameras. To produce microlenses, we expressed the enzyme silicatein in our engineered cells, which catalyzes polymerization of silicic acid (Cha et al., 1999). This resulted in a biosilica layer around the cell (MULLER et al., 2008). We also overexpressed the gene bolA in our silica covered cells, which produces a round cell shape when overexpressed (Aldea & Concha, 1988). Together this allows the cell to function as a microlens. When we make a grid of lenses, a microlens array, we can use the lens for a coating for solar panels, thin lightweight cameras with high resolution or 3D screens.

The goal of our biolasers is to improve current imaging techniques by increasing the fluorescence output of the cells and by narrowing the wavelength spectrum of the light emitted by the cells. We did this by expressing fluorescent proteins within our biosilica-covered cells. When exciting the fluorophores, a fraction of the photons are trapped inside the cell by the biosilica layer. These photons excite other fluorescent proteins and stimulated emission occurs. This process results in light with a higher intensity and a narrower colour spectrum compared to conventional fluorescence.