January / February 2005 - CSIR

14N A N O T E C H N O L O G Y – T H E N E W F R O N T I E R ?TOWARDS DEVELOPING THESYNTHETICFORESTSOF THE FUTUREPlant cells possess built-in capabilitiesthat can help us address future importanttechnological and economic shortcomingsfaced by our society. Theseinclude energy storage and processingas well as materials synthesis, whichare captured in a plant through theprocess of photosynthesis and mitochondrialrespiration respectively.In order to remain competitive globally,the South African forest products industryneeds to meet increasing challengessuch as reduced access to fibre due todecreasing forest resources; stricterenvironmental regulation; energy costs;international trade barriers andincreasing international competition forlow-cost producers.Developing local nanotechnologicalexpertise in South Africa would add furthervalue to the manufacture of woodand wood-composites, pulp, paper andcellulose derivatives of high relevance tothe textile industry such as acetate,rayon and viscose. The new nanotech-nology capabilities developed could notonly meet the challenges mentioned, butalso reduce energy consumption.James Wesley-Smith, CSIR researcher,says, “It is conceivable that the processof cell wall formation can be used as atemplate to engineer mimicking devicesallowing the manufacture of cellulosefibres and composites outside the cell,using cellulose synthase proteins asbuilding blocks. The CSIR’s ultimate goalwould be to engineer an ‘artificial cell’capable of engaging simultaneously inphotosynthesis and cellulose synthesis,in other words, develop a synthetic forest.”Wesley-Smith cites that the potentialbenefits from nanotechnology includeincreased rate of fibre production; reduceddependence on harvesting; eliminationof the lignin removal process for pulps;molecular scale control of compositematerial production; engineering of newmaterial properties to add value to products;lower energy consumption and environmentallyfriendly production processes.While many biological processes withinplant cells are well documented andunderstood, there are many areas ofphotosynthesis and cellulose synthasebiochemistry that need to be understoodfurther before they can be modelled andreplicated outside the cell. For example,the structure, function and regulation ofcellulose synthase, and the process ofassembling cellulose molecules into cellwall composite material would have tobe researched. Understanding how noncellulosicmaterials are incorporated intocellulose fibrils, and the role these play inconferring strength, resistance to decayand insulation are also other aspects tobe addressed. And then there is the bigquestion: can the practical efficiency ofphotosynthesis be improved by newdevices?Enquiries:James Wesley-SmithCSIR Water, Environment and ForestryTechnologyTel: +27 31 242 2316Fax: +27 31 261 1216Email: jwesleysmith@csir.co.za