Sandeep Terse

Mesoporous Silicon Nanoparticles

What Should You Know About Mesoporous Silicon Nanoparticles?

Silicon Nanoparticles

Silicon Nanoparticles | Image Resource : scitechdaily.com

Development in the field of nanotechnology has always proven to be beneficial for mankind. One such development lead to the creation of a distinct type of nanoparticle that holds the power to shape a better future for medical science. Though research on this particle still continues, but the results that are achieved till date, do prove the miraculous property of this nano wonder. And that particle is the one and only Mesoporous silica.

Mesoporous silica is an interesting nanoparticle that is made with amorphous silica. Its common types include SBA-15, MSU and MCM-41. Their history takes us back to 1990’s when the first ever Mesoporous silicon nanoparticles (MSNs) was independently synthesized in Japan by researchers. However, the work remained unnoticed until 1997, when these particles were back again with much larger pores ranging from 4.6 to 30 nanometers. This particle was produced by University of California, Santa Barbra and thus was named as SBA-15.

Back then researchers decided to use these particles as molecular-sieve, but with time development in their research work took place and soon it found its importance in medicine, imaging, thermal energy storage and biosensors too.
 

Synthesizing Mesoporous Silicon Nanoparticles Form Amorphous Silica


Ideally these particles were synthesized with the help of tetraethyl orthosilicate and a template made with the micellar rods. Where the amorphous silica reacted with this compound, as a result of which nano-sized particles (rods or spheres) were settled on a template. The arrangement of these so formed particles were uniform and they were removed from the template with the help of a solvent at appropriate pH value.

But today, silicon nanoparticles can be easily synthesized with the help of spray drying or sol-gel method. Though tetraethyl orthosilicate is even used in these methods, yet they are considered to be quite effective than the one that was used earlier, thus providing better uniformity and reducing the chances of aggregation.
 

Buy Silicon Nanoparticles for Better Drug Delivery


These particles have a large surface area which be filled with a cytotoxin or drug. Now, the drug that gets transported with the help of these silicon nano sized particles can be taken up easily by certain cells through the process of endocytosis. Studies indicate that when these particles are used for the drug delivery to treat cancer then the cancer cells will take up more drugs compared to other cells, ensuring efficient delivery. This certainly gives hope that someday it will be used to treat different types of cancer.

Other than that, these particles even hold the potential to dilute those drugs that remain insoluble in water. This means that silicon nanoparticles are even capable of treating the poor water solubility of the drugs so that they can work in a better way. This approach can enhance the drug delivery system to a larger extent.

Not only for the field of medical science, but these versatile particles are even important for other sectors too such as optics, electronics and mechanics. This makes it an evolutionary particle packed with the best of nanotechnology.

 
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