Silicification Biosilicification

We demonstrated that a naturally derived polysaccharide, chitosan, is capable of forming composite nanoparticles with silica. For encapsulated particles, we used silicification and biosilicification to encapsulate curcumin and analyzed the physicochemical properties of curcumin nanoparticles. It proved that encapsulated curcumin nanoparticles enhanced stability toward ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, antioxidation and antitumor activity, enhanced/added function, solubility, bioactivities/ bioavailability, and control release and overcame the immunobarrier. We present an in vitro study that examined the cytotoxicity of amorphous and composite silica nanoparticles to different cell lines. These bioactives include curcumin mdAntrodia cinnamomea. It is hoped that by examining the response of multiple cell lines to silica nanoparticles more basic information regarding the cytotoxicity as well as potential functions of silica in future oncological applications could become available. 

Patwardhan, S. V. Clarson, S. J., Silicification and biosilicification - Part 7 Poly-L-arginine mediated bioinspired synthesis of silica. J. Inorg. Organomet. Polym. 2003,13, (4), 193-203. 

Patwardhan, S. V., Silicification and Biosilicification Role of Macromolecules in Bioinspired Silica Synthesis. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Cincinnati 2003. 

Silicification and Biosilicification. There has been some interest in generating silica-like particles using templates, as is done by nature in biosilicification processes (305). Various particle shapes have been obtained platelet forms would be of particular interest with regard to their abilities to provide reinforcement and decrease permeability, as occurs with the layered fillers described below. 

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