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Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jul 2022Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are composed of silicon dioxide, the most abundant compound on Earth, and are used widely in many applications including the food industry,... (Review)
Review
Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are composed of silicon dioxide, the most abundant compound on Earth, and are used widely in many applications including the food industry, synthetic processes, medical diagnosis, and drug delivery due to their controllable particle size, large surface area, and great biocompatibility. Building on basic synthetic methods, convenient and economical strategies have been developed for the synthesis of SiNPs. Numerous studies have assessed the biomedical applications of SiNPs, including the surface and structural modification of SiNPs to target various cancers and diagnose diseases. However, studies on the in vitro and in vivo toxicity of SiNPs remain in the exploratory stage, and the toxicity mechanisms of SiNPs are poorly understood. This review covers recent studies on the biomedical applications of SiNPs, including their uses in drug delivery systems to diagnose and treat various diseases in the human body. SiNP toxicity is discussed in terms of the different systems of the human body and the individual organs in those systems. This comprehensive review includes both fundamental discoveries and exploratory progress in SiNP research that may lead to practical developments in the future.
Topics: Humans; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Particle Size; Silicon Dioxide
PubMed: 35594717
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113053 -
Chemical Reviews Jul 2022Two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin silica films have the potential to reach technological importance in electronics and catalysis. Several well-defined 2D-silica structures... (Review)
Review
Two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin silica films have the potential to reach technological importance in electronics and catalysis. Several well-defined 2D-silica structures have been synthesized so far. The silica bilayer represents a 2D material with SiO stoichiometry. It consists of precisely two layers of tetrahedral [SiO] building blocks, corner connected via oxygen bridges, thus forming a self-saturated silicon dioxide sheet with a thickness of ∼0.5 nm. Inspired by recent successful preparations and characterizations of these 2D-silica model systems, scientists now can forge novel concepts for realistic systems, particularly by atomic-scale studies with the most powerful and advanced surface science techniques and density functional theory calculations. This Review provides a solid introduction to these recent developments, breakthroughs, and implications on ultrathin 2D-silica films, including their atomic/electronic structures, chemical modifications, atom/molecule adsorptions, and catalytic reactivity properties, which can help to stimulate further investigations and understandings of these fundamentally important 2D materials.
Topics: Adsorption; Catalysis; Electronics; Silicon Dioxide; Surface Properties
PubMed: 35731806
DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00995 -
Redox Biology Feb 2023The metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a public health challenge, leading to a global increase in chronic liver disease. The respiratory exposure of...
The metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a public health challenge, leading to a global increase in chronic liver disease. The respiratory exposure of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) has revealed to induce hepatotoxicity. However, its role in the pathogenesis and progression of MAFLD was severely under-studied. In this context, the hepatic impacts of SiNPs were investigated in vivo and in vitro through using ApoE mice and free fatty acid (FFA)-treated L02 hepatocytes. Histopathological examinations and biochemical analysis showed SiNPs exposure via intratracheal instillation aggravated hepatic steatosis, lipid vacuolation, inflammatory infiltration and even collagen deposition in ApoE mice, companied with increased hepatic ALT, AST and LDH levels. The enhanced fatty acid synthesis and inhibited fatty acid β-oxidation and lipid efflux may account for the increased hepatic TC/TG by SiNPs. Consistently, SiNPs induced lipid deposition and elevated TC in FFA-treated L02 cells. Further, the activation of hepatic oxidative stress was detected in vivo and in vitro, as evidenced by ROS accumulation, elevated MDA, declined GSH/GSSG and down-regulated Nrf2 signaling. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was also triggered in response to SiNPs-induced lipid accumulation, as reflecting by the remarkable ER expansion and increased BIP expression. More importantly, an UPLC-MS-based metabolomics analysis revealed that SiNPs disturbed the hepatic metabolic profile in ApoE mice, prominently on amino acids and lipid metabolisms. In particular, the identified differential metabolites were strongly correlated to the activation of oxidative stress and ensuing hepatic TC/TG accumulation and liver injuries, contributing to the progression of liver diseases. Taken together, our study showed SiNPs promoted hepatic steatosis and liver damage, resulting in the aggravation of MAFLD progression. More importantly, the disturbed amino acids and lipid metabolisms-mediated oxidative stress was a key contributor to this phenomenon from a metabolic perspective.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Lipid Metabolism; Silicon Dioxide; Amino Acids; Chromatography, Liquid; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Oxidative Stress; Liver; Nanoparticles; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Lipids; Fatty Acids
PubMed: 36512914
DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102569 -
Journal of Advanced Research Jun 2023The aggregation of graphene oxide (GO) is considered as main challenge, although GO possesses excellent mechanical properties which arouses widespread attention as...
INTRODUCTION
The aggregation of graphene oxide (GO) is considered as main challenge, although GO possesses excellent mechanical properties which arouses widespread attention as reinforcement for polymers.
OBJECTIVES
In this study, silicon dioxide (SiO) nanoparticles were decorated onto surface of GO nanosheets through in situ growth method for promoting dispersion of GO in poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) bone scaffold.
METHODS
Hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups of GO provided sites for SiO nucleation, and SiO grew with hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and finally formed nanoparticles onto surface of GO with covalent bonds. Then, the GO@ SiO nanocomposite was blended with PLLA for the fabrication of bone scaffold by selective laser sintering (SLS).
RESULT
The results indicated that the obtained SiO were distributed relatively uniformly on surface of GO under TEOS concentration of 0.10 mol/L (GO@SiO-10), and the covering of SiO on GO could increase interlayer distance of GO nanosheets from 0.799 nm to 0.894 nm, thus reducing van der Waals forces between GO nanosheets and facilitating the dispersion. Tensile and compressive strength of scaffold containing GO@SiO hybrids were significantly enhanced, especially for the scaffold containing GO@SiO-10 hybrids with enhancement of 30.95 % in tensile strength and 66.33 % in compressive strength compared with the scaffold containing GO. Additionally, cell adhesion and fluorescence experiments demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility of the scaffold.
CONCLUSIONS
The good dispersion of GO@SiO enhances the mechanical properties and cytocompatibility of scaffold, making it a potential candidate for bone tissue engineering applications.
Topics: Silicon Dioxide; Polyesters; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 36087925
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2022.08.017 -
Annals of Botany Jul 2023Silicon and aluminium oxides make the bulk of agricultural soils. Plants absorb dissolved silicon as silicic acid into their bodies through their roots. The silicic acid... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Silicon and aluminium oxides make the bulk of agricultural soils. Plants absorb dissolved silicon as silicic acid into their bodies through their roots. The silicic acid moves with transpiration to target tissues in the plant body, where it polymerizes into biogenic silica. Mostly, the mineral forms on a matrix of cell wall polymers to create a composite material. Historically, silica deposition (silicification) was supposed to occur once water evaporated from the plant surface, leaving behind an increased concentration of silicic acid within plant tissues. However, recent publications indicate that certain cell wall polymers and proteins initiate and control the extent of plant silicification.
SCOPE
Here we review recent publications on the polymers that scaffold the formation of biogenic plant silica, and propose a paradigm shift from spontaneous polymerization of silicic acid to dedicated active metabolic processes that control both the location and the extent of the mineralization.
CONCLUSION
Protein activity concentrates silicic acid beyond its saturation level. Polymeric structures at the cell wall stabilize the supersaturated silicic acid and allow its flow with the transpiration stream, or bind it and allow its initial condensation. Silica nucleation and further polymerization are enabled on a polymeric scaffold, which is embedded within the mineral. Deposition is terminated once free silicic acid is consumed or the chemical moieties for its binding are saturated.
Topics: Silicon Dioxide; Silicic Acid; Silicon; Plants; Polymers
PubMed: 37094329
DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad056 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2019Electronics, and nanoelectronics in particular, represent one of the most promising branches of technology. The search for novel and more efficient materials seems to be... (Review)
Review
Electronics, and nanoelectronics in particular, represent one of the most promising branches of technology. The search for novel and more efficient materials seems to be natural here. Thus far, silicon-based devices have been monopolizing this domain. Indeed, it is justified since it allows for significant miniaturization of electronic elements by their densification in integrated circuits. Nevertheless, silicon has some restrictions. Since this material is applied in the bulk form, the miniaturization limit seems to be already reached. Moreover, smaller silicon-based elements (mainly processors) need much more energy and generate significantly more heat than their larger counterparts. In our opinion, the future belongs to nanostructured materials where a proper structure is obtained by means of bottom-up nanotechnology. A great example of a material utilizing nanostructuring is mesoporous silica, which, due to its outstanding properties, can find numerous applications in electronic devices. This focused review is devoted to the application of porous silica-based materials in electronics. We guide the reader through the development and most crucial findings of porous silica from its first synthesis in 1992 to the present. The article describes constant struggle of researchers to find better solutions to supercapacitors, lower the value or redox-active hybrids while maintaining robust mechanical properties. Finally, the last section refers to ultra-modern applications of silica such as molecular artificial neural networks or super-dense magnetic memory storage.
Topics: Electrical Equipment and Supplies; Nanostructures; Porosity; Silicon Dioxide
PubMed: 31261814
DOI: 10.3390/molecules24132395 -
Biology Letters Oct 2018The cell wall polymer callose catalyses the formation of silica and is heavily implicated in biological silicification in (horsetail) and (thale cress) Callose, a... (Review)
Review
The cell wall polymer callose catalyses the formation of silica and is heavily implicated in biological silicification in (horsetail) and (thale cress) Callose, a β-1,3-glucan, is an ideal partner for silicification, because its amorphous structure and ephemeral nature provide suitable microenvironments to support the condensation of silicic acid into silica. Herein, using scanning electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and fluorescence, we provide further evidence of the cooperative nature of callose and silica in biological silicification in rice, an important crop plant and known silica accumulator. These new data along with recently published research enable us to propose a model to describe the intracellular events that together determine callose-driven biological silicification.
Topics: Glucans; Immunohistochemistry; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Optical Imaging; Oryza; Silicic Acid; Silicon Dioxide
PubMed: 30282746
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0338 -
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Jun 2022The review provides comparison of porous materials that act as a matrix for luminescent oxygen indicators. These include silica-gels, sol-gel materials based on silica... (Review)
Review
The review provides comparison of porous materials that act as a matrix for luminescent oxygen indicators. These include silica-gels, sol-gel materials based on silica and organically modified silica (Ormosils), aerogels, electrospun polymeric nanofibers, metal-organic frameworks, anodized alumina, and various other microstructured sensor matrices. The influence of material structure and composition on the efficiency of oxygen quenching and dynamic response times is compared and the advantages and disadvantages of the materials are summarized to give a guide for design and practical application of sensors with desired sensitivity and response time.
Topics: Gases; Gels; Oxygen; Porosity; Silicon Dioxide
PubMed: 35352161
DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04014-6 -
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy Nov 2023Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are recognized as a prime example of nanotechnology applied in the biomedical field, due to their easily tunable structure and... (Review)
Review
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are recognized as a prime example of nanotechnology applied in the biomedical field, due to their easily tunable structure and composition, diverse surface functionalization properties, and excellent biocompatibility. Over the past two decades, researchers have developed a wide variety of MSNs-based nanoplatforms through careful design and controlled preparation techniques, demonstrating their adaptability to various biomedical application scenarios. With the continuous breakthroughs of MSNs in the fields of biosensing, disease diagnosis and treatment, tissue engineering, etc., MSNs are gradually moving from basic research to clinical trials. In this review, we provide a detailed summary of MSNs in the biomedical field, beginning with a comprehensive overview of their development history. We then discuss the types of MSNs-based nanostructured architectures, as well as the classification of MSNs-based nanocomposites according to the elements existed in various inorganic functional components. Subsequently, we summarize the primary purposes of surface-functionalized modifications of MSNs. In the following, we discuss the biomedical applications of MSNs, and highlight the MSNs-based targeted therapeutic modalities currently developed. Given the importance of clinical translation, we also summarize the progress of MSNs in clinical trials. Finally, we take a perspective on the future direction and remaining challenges of MSNs in the biomedical field.
Topics: Drug Delivery Systems; Silicon Dioxide; Porosity; Drug Carriers; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 37996406
DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01654-7 -
Nanotheranostics 2019Theragnostics is considered as an emerging treatment strategy that integrates therapeutics and diagnostics thus allowing delivery of therapeutics and simultaneous... (Review)
Review
Theragnostics is considered as an emerging treatment strategy that integrates therapeutics and diagnostics thus allowing delivery of therapeutics and simultaneous monitoring of the progression of treatment. Among the different types of inorganic nanomaterials that are being used for nanomedicine, core shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles have emerged as promising multifunctional nanoplatform for theragnostic application. Research in the design of core/shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles is steadily diversifying owing to the various interesting properties of these nanomaterials that are advantageous for advanced biomedical applications. Core/shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles, have garnered substantial attention in recent years because of their exceptional properties including large surface area, low density, ease of functionalization, high loading capacity of drugs, control of the morphology, particle size, tunable hollow interior space and mesoporous shell and possibility of incorporating multifunctional interior core material. In the past decade researcher's demonstrated tremendous development in design of functionalized core/shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles with different inorganic functional nanomaterial incorporated into mesoporous nanosystem for simultaneous therapeutic and diagnostic (theragnostic) applications in cancer. In this review, we recapitulate the progress in commonly used synthetic strategies and theragnostic applications of core/shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles with special emphasis on therapeutic and diagnostic modalities. Finally, we discuss the challenges and some perspectives on the future research and development of theragnostic core/shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles.
Topics: Animals; Drug Carriers; Humans; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Particle Size; Porosity; Silicon Dioxide
PubMed: 30662821
DOI: 10.7150/ntno.27877