In nature, cells perform a variety of complex functions such as sensing, catalysis, and energy conversion which hold great potential for biotechnological device construction. However, cellular sensitivity to ex-vivo environments necessitates development of bio-nano interfaces which allow integration of cells into devices and maintain their desired functionality. In order to develop such an inte...

Immobilisation of proteins on solid supports such as silica is commonly applied to improve performance of enzymes under detrimental conditions and to allow enzyme recycling. Silica biomineralisation processes occurring in nature have recently inspired approaches towards mild, biomimetic silica formation. In diatoms, complex posttranslationally modified silaffin peptides are directly involved in...

Crystalline silica is commonly found in the work environment. Possible health effects of occupational exposure continue to be the subject of extensive research. The aim of this paper was to analyze the recent findings concerning the health effects of exposure to crystalline silica, taking into account different levels of exposure. This work is based on the relevant information from the papers r...

Low-temperature solution processible and solventless silica-epoxy hybrid materials composed of organically modified silica nanoparticles and epoxy monomers were successfully fabricated through simple sol-gel process and solvent evaporation. These silica-epoxy hybrid materials exhibited the homogeneous dispersion without any phase separation, aggregation, and gelation in the solventless environm...

Diatom production in the offshore waters of Lake Michigan is limited by silica supplies in late summer and can be predicted from the seasonal disappearance of silica from the trophogenic zone. Biogenic silica fluxes obtained from sediment trap collections were compared with fluxes predicted from the silica disappearance model. Measured and predicted fluxes were in good agreement for offshore st...

Environmental crystalline silica exposure has been associated with formation of autoantibodies and development of systemic autoimmune disease, but the mechanisms leading to these events are unknown. Silica exposure in autoimmune-prone New Zealand mixed (NZM) mice results in a significant exacerbation of systemic autoimmunity as measured by increases in autoantibodies and glomerulonephritis. Pre...

At present there is a pressing need to find an environmentally friendly grouting material for the construction of tunnels. Silica nanoparticles hold great potential of replacing the organic molecule based grouting materials currently used for this purpose. Chemically, silica nanoparticles are similar to natural silicates which are essential components of rocks and soil. Moreover, suspensions of...

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are the principal target cells of silica and occupy a key position in the pathogenesis of silica-related diseases. Silica has been found to induce apoptosis in AMs, whereas its underlying mechanisms involving the initiation and execution of apoptosis are largely unknown. The main objective of the present study was to examine the form of cell death caused by silica and...

Spherical shaped, nanometer to micro meter sized silica particles were prepared in a homogeneous nature by spray technique. Silver nanoparticles were produced over the surface of the silica grains in a harmonized manner. The size of silver and silica particles was effectively controlled by the precursors and catalysts. The electrostatic repulsion among the silica spheres and the electro static ...

We demonstrate a rapid method for enzyme immobilization directly on a waveguide surface by encapsulation in a silica matrix. Organophosphate hydrolase (OPH), an enzyme that catalytically hydrolyzes organophosphates, was used as a model enzyme to demonstrate the utility of lysozyme-mediated silica formation for enzyme stabilization. Silica morphology and the efficiency of OPH encapsulation were ...