Functionalized Mesoporous Thin Films for Biotechnology

Mesoporous materials bear great potential for biotechnological applications due to their biocompatibility and versatility. Their high surface area and pore interconnection allow the immobilization of molecules and their subsequent controlled delivery. Modifications of the mesoporous material with the addition of different chemical species, make them particularly suitable for the production of bioactive coatings. Functionalized thin films of mesoporous silica and titania can be used as scaffolds with properties as diverse as promotion of cell growth, inhibition of biofilms formation, or development of sensors based on immobilized enzymes. The possibility to pattern them increase their appeal as they can be incorporated into devices and can be tailored both with respect to architecture and functionalization. In fact, selective surface manipulation is the ground for the fabrication of advanced micro devices that combine standard micro/nanofluids with functional materials. In this review, we will present the advantages of the functionalization of silica and titania mesoporous materials deposited in thin film. Different functional groups used to modify their properties will be summarized, as well as functionalization methods and some examples of applications of modified materials, thus giving an overview of the essential role of functionalization to improve the performance of such innovative materials.

Adsorption affinity of Zn (II) ions for nanostructured zirconium phosphate/silica or titania composites

The paper presents the kinetics of Zn (II) ions adsorption as well as its dependence as a function of pH on nanostructured zirconium phosphate and its composites with silica and titania. The nanostructured zirconium phosphate-containing composites were obtained by mechanical processing in the Pulverisette-7 (Fritsch Gmbh) mill. The obtained composites were characterized by a heterogeneous surface coverage of silica gel or titanium oxides. Zinc ions adsorption studies on these adsorbents showed practically complete removal of Zn (II) from aqueous solutions with an initial concentration of < 0.0001 mol/dm3 and a pH > 4 within 10 min.

Mechanistic process understanding of the self-assembling behaviour of asymmetric bolaamphiphilic short-peptides and their templating for silica and titania nanomaterials

Investigation of self-assembly of peptides is critical important to clarify certain biophysical phenomenon, fulfill some biological functions, and construct functional materials. However, it is still a challenge to precisely predict...

On the Mechanism of Bioinspired Formation of Inorganic Oxides: Structural Evidence of the Electrostatic Nature of the Interaction between a Mononuclear Inorganic Precursor and Lysozyme

Nature has evolved several molecular machineries to promote the formation at physiological conditions of inorganic materials, which would otherwise be formed in extreme conditions. The molecular determinants of this process have been established over the last decade, identifying a strong role of electrostatics in the first steps of the precipitation. However, no conclusive, structure-based evidence has been provided so far. In this manuscript, we test the binding of lysozyme with silica and titania potential precursors. In contrast with the absence of structural information about the interaction with the silica precursor, we observe the interaction with a mononuclear titanium(IV) species, which is found to occur in a region rich of positive charges.