Organic mater living

M. L. Ferrer, L. Yuste, F. Rojo and F. del Monte, A biocompatible sol-gel route for encapsulation of living bacteria in organically modified silica matrixes, Chem. Mater., 2003, 15, 3614. 

As it has been pointed out earlier, the terrestrial ecosystems are the main sink of carbon dioxide due to the photosynthesis process. The present bulk of living organisms is confined to land, and their mass (on dry basis) amounts to 1880 x lO tons. The average carbon concentration in the dry mater of terrestrial vegetation is 46% and, consequently, the carbon mass in the land vegetation is abont 865 x 10 tons (after Bolin, 1979 and Dobrovolsky, 1994). 

Their physical properties are similar to those of conventional plastics, but they are biodegradable in different environments. Living micro-organisms transform Mater Bi products into water, carbon dioxide or methane. Mater Bi can be used in a wide range of applications such as packaging, disposable items, personal care and hygiene, agriculture and floriculture. 

It seems to be interesting to develop their applications into the biomedical field. Trypsin is a proteolytic enzyme, which is present in living organisms. Numerous proteases may be present at the wound site. One of the application of Mater Bi in biomedical field could be plastic implants. That is why the study of the resistance of Mater Bi against the attack of trypsin was undertaken. 

Nyce, G W. Connor, E. F. Hedrick, J. L. In-situ formation of N-heterocychc carbenes as organic catalysts for living polymerization. Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng. 2002,87, 213-214. 

Pyun, J., and Matyjaszewski, K. (2001). Synthesis of nanocomposite organic/inorganic hybrid materials using controlled/ living radical polymerization. Chem. Mater., /5(10) 3436-3448. 

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