Parallel-stacked aromatic molecules in hydrogen-bonded inorganic frameworks

By precisely constructing molecules and assembling these into well-defined supramolecular structures, novel physical properties and functionalities can be realized, and new areas of the chemical space can be accessed. In both materials science and biology, a deeper understanding of the properties and exploitation of the reversible character of weak bonds and interactions, such as hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions, is anticipated to lead to the development of materials with novel properties and functionalities. We apply the hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) strategy to inorganic materials science using the cubic octamer of orthosilicic acid, [Si8O12][OH]8, as a building block, and find that various types of hydrogen-bonded inorganic frameworks (HIFs). We succeed in parallel π-stacking pure benzene, thiophene, selenophene, p-benzoquinone, thiophene·p-benzoquinone, and benzene·p-benzoquinone polymers infinitely. These polymers interact via their π-systems by taking advantage of the flexible pores of the three-dimensional nano-honeycomb HIFs, which consist of periodic wide and narrow segments.

Response of Organic Biostimulants and Silicon to Growth, Yield and Quality of Tomato under Soil Salinity Conditions

Abiotic stresses strongly affect plant growth, nutrient composition and quality of production; final crop yield can be really compromised if stress occurs in plants’ most sensitive phenological phases. The present field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of biostimulants on improvement of tolerance and yield of tomato plants exposed to salinity. The tomato field soil condition with pH- 8.7 and EC- 4 dS m-1 was recorded. After the first fruit set of tomato, Organic biostimulant (Organic mix with high concentration of carboxylic acids, containing calcium oxide (CaO), ammonium ligninsulfonate and Zinc) were given by soil drenching and Orthosilicic acid as silicon source by foliar spray at every 10 – 15 days interval. The treatments include Organic biostimulant at 0.3ml/plant & 0.6ml/plant, Orthosilicic acid at 0.2% and 0.4%. The observations were taken during greener and red ripening stage. The biostimulants positively affected the plant height and chlorophyll fluorescence. Biostimulants were allowed to maintain the lower level of electrolyte leakage and osmotic potential within the plant. The activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes increased with the increases in salinity: biostimulants thereby kept the lower the level of reactive oxygen species. Under saline conditions due to the ionic imbalance, potassium and calcium content in both the shoots and roots were recorded lower, whereas the sodium content was found to be higher than the control plants. Similarly, a significant increase in total soluble solids and firmness of the fruit was recorded in tomato fruits. Yield characters like fruit number per plant, single plant yield, single fruit weight and flower to fruit ratio were positively affected by the application of biostimulants. The organic biostimulant and Orthosilicic acid administered at a greater dose appeared to be the most effective in our investigation.

The effect of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid in patients with peri-implantitis: an exploratory randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study

Background Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid (CS-OSA) was previously found to stimulate bone collagen formation in osteopenia and to improve biomarkers of cartilage degradation in knee osteoarthritis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of CS-OSA on clinical symptoms of peri-implantitis and the associated bone loss. Methods Twenty-one patients with peri-implantitis were randomized in CS-OSA or placebo groups. After initial clinical and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) measurements [probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), mucosal recession (REC), distance from implant shoulder to alveolar crest (IS-AC) and distance from implant shoulder to first bone-to-implant contact (IS-BIC)], flap operations were performed at the peri-implantitis sites. All patients were instructed to use either placebo or CS-OSA capsules twice a day for 1 year. Measurements were repeated 6 and 12 months after randomization. Results The data of 18 patients (36 implants) were used in the per protocol analysis. PPD and BOP improved significantly (p < 0.05) compared to baseline for both groups after 6 and 12 months. However, REC significantly increased in the placebo group but not in the CS-OSA group. The change in REC over 6 and 12 months was significantly different between groups (p < 0.01). IS-BIC and IS-AC measurements remained stable in the CS-OSA group whereas in the placebo group, both parameters increased significantly after 6 and 12 months. The change in IS-BIC over 12 months was significantly different between groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of this preliminary study suggest that CS-OSA may stabilize and even prevent further bone loss after surgical peri-implantitis treatment and support mucosal tissue healing. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered at ISRCTN registry, registration number: ISRCTN14348802, registration date: 24/06/2020.

Evaluation of pro-angiogenic properties of an inorganic silica gel fibre fleece

Hard-to-heal wounds represent an increasing health and economic burden on society. At present, therapy options for hard-to-heal wounds are often unsatisfactory, and the development of more effective wound treatments is urgently needed. We have shown that orthosilicic acid-releasing silica fibre fleece (SIFIB), via its pronounced anti-inflammatory properties, exhibited a significantly enhanced effect on wound closure kinetics in a porcine wound model in vivo. In this present study, we have examined in vitro the impact of the pro-angiogenic potential of SIFIB. Using an in vitro angiogenesis assay we describe for the first time how an inorganic biodegradable silica-based material significantly improved endothelial microvessel-like structure formation. We further demonstrate that the molecular mechanism of this pro-angiogenic activity of SIFIB is based on a significantly increased and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α-dependent VEGF protein expression. In conclusion, due to its positive effects on angiogenesis, our results further indicate that decomposition products of silica-based biodegradable inorganic materials might represent very relevant therapeutic components of modern wound dressings for the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds.

Effect of silicon’s doses in the cultivation of pea (Pisum sativum L.), to obtain a higher yield, district of Barranca [Efecto de dosis de silicio en el cultivo de arveja (Pisum sativum L.), para obtener mayor rendimiento, distrito de Barranca]

The objective was to determine the adequate dose of silicon foliar fertilization, to obtain a higher yield in pea crops. Regarding the methodology, the research is applied and experimental; Therefore, the Completely Random Block Design comprised of 4 blocks and 4 treatments was used, which were: T1 = 0, T2 = 0.50 L, T3 = 0.75 L and T4 = 1 L Silicon (Sil Trade) / 200 L of water Applied in four times, it is worth mentioning the chemical ingredient of silicon is orthosilicic acid. The physical characteristics from sowing to harvest were evaluated and the silicon concentrations in leaves were analyzed by treatment. Obtained data were processed by analysis of variance and Duncan. The results determined that T4 stood out in plant height with 89.74 cm, number of pods per plant with 37, weight of pods per plant with 234.43 g, yield with 4444.4 kg/ha and silicon concentration in leaves with 1.75 g/100 g of dry material. It is concluded that there were no silicon effects; that is, it did not statistically influence the physical characteristics. However, T4 with 1 L Silicon (Sil Trade) / 200 L of water increased 8.58% of the yield in relation to T1.

Relative absorption of silicon from different formulations of dietary supplements: a pilot randomized, double-blind, crossover post-prandial study

The purpose of the present study was to compare the relative absorption of a new powder presentation of silicon (Si) as orthosilicic acid with maltodextrin (Orgono Powder) compared to usual Si liquid presentations as orthosilicic acid with Equisetum arvense and Rosmarinus officinalis (G5 Siliplant) and orthosilicic acid with aloe vera (G7 Aloe). All dietary supplements were administered at the same Si oral dose (21.6 mg) in a randomized, double-blind, crossover post-prandial study conducted in 5 healthy men. Urine was collected at baseline and over the 6-h post-dose period in 2 separate 3-h collections for the analysis of Si concentration, which was conducted by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry as the gold standard method. No significant differences in total urinary Si excretion were found after the intake of these 3 dietary supplements; 34.6%, 32.4% and 27.2% of the ingested Si from G7 Aloe, G5 Siliplant and Orgono Powder, respectively, was excreted in urine over the 6-h follow-up period. The 3 different oral Si formulations tested, in powder and liquid presentations, provide highly bioavailable Si and present an equivalent relative absorption in healthy humans.

Influence of Various Forms of Foliar Application on Root Yield and Technological Quality of Sugar Beet

The Green Deal adopted by the European Commission assumes a significant reduction in the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. It is necessary to search for environmentally safe technologies that will prevent a reduction in crop yield. One of such methods, which was examined in the study, is the foliar application of silicon, which can have a positive effect on root yield and its quality. In the period 2017–2019, a field experiment was carried out in which the effectiveness of the application of various forms of silicon (orthosilicic acid, a mixture of orthosilicic and polysilicic acid and calcium silicate) in sugar beet cultivation was assessed. The applied treatments of foliar application increased the root yield by 10.7–11.7%, the biological sugar yield by 8.4–12% and the pure sugar yield by 7.2–11.8% as compared to the control treatment. The differences between the individual treatments in terms of these characteristics were insignificant. Their impacts on the technological quality of roots (content of sugar, α-amino nitrogen, potassium and sodium) were different.