Zeolite minerals and health sciences

Natural and synthetic zeolites as well as other mesoporous and microporous solids are used in many industrial and household applications. However, it is less known that in recent years these exciting materials are increasingly being used in biomedical applications. In this review different current and possible future biomedical applications, together with our own research results obtained from studies of such materials, are critically described. Current needs for synthesis and characterization of novel mesoporous and microporous materials which would be better suited for biomedical applications are also described. 

32-0-02 - Zeolites and other porous materials in the toxicity of inhaled mineral dusts 

Dipartimento di Chimica IFM, Universitd di Torino, Torino, Italy - fubini ch. unito. it 

Simon Carballo (a), G. Rodriguez-Fuentes (b), C. Urbina (c) and A. Fleitas (a) a Instituto Nacional de Angiologiay Cirugia Vascular, experim infomed.sld.cu, Cuba b Instituto de Materialesy Reactivos, Univ. La Habana, zeolitas lae.ff.oc.uh.cu, Cuba c Universidad Central de, curbina electra.ciens.ucv.ve, Venezuela 

The calcium exchanged form of the purified natural clinoptilolite (NZ) from the Tasajeras deposit, Cuba, is the active ingredient of a drug designed to reduce total blood cholesterol and prevent atherosclerosis. The study of the Ca -NZ - human bile reaction has revealed that it occurs through the adsorption of three major human bile compounds bile acids, phospholipids and bilirubin. The adsorption of phospholipids on the external surface of the clinoptilolite crystals produces a phospholipids-zeolite interface with anionic activity that allows the adsorption of bile acids. 

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