Abstract
Mesoporous materials bear great potential for biotechnological applications due to their biocompatibility and versatility. Their high surface area and pore interconnection allow the immobilization of molecules and their subsequent controlled delivery. Modifications of the mesoporous material with the addition of different chemical species, make them particularly suitable for the production of bioactive coatings. Functionalized thin films of mesoporous silica and titania can be used as scaffolds with properties as diverse as promotion of cell growth, inhibition of biofilms formation, or development of sensors based on immobilized enzymes. The possibility to pattern them increase their appeal as they can be incorporated into devices and can be tailored both with respect to architecture and functionalization. In fact, selective surface manipulation is the ground for the fabrication of advanced micro devices that combine standard micro/nanofluids with functional materials. In this review, we will present the advantages of the functionalization of silica and titania mesoporous materials deposited in thin film. Different functional groups used to modify their properties will be summarized, as well as functionalization methods and some examples of applications of modified materials, thus giving an overview of the essential role of functionalization to improve the performance of such innovative materials.
Highlights
Mesoporous materials inspired by nature have been developed in the past decades, being attractive because they allow for functional design and applications [1,2].By definition, mesoporous materials present interconnected pores with a diameter in the range of 2–50 nm, which are arranged in ordered or worm-like architecture
They can be used in tissue engineering, taking advantage of their bioactivity: it was demonstrated that SiOH and TiOH groups on the surface of mesoporous silica and titania act as nucleation sites for the formation of apatite crystals when submerged in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) [14,15], enhancing bone regeneration and cell growth
Antibiotic loaded material showed increased activity against bacterial film formation, as expected in presence of 7 nm mesopores. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of mesoporous titania as an antibacterial coating, which can be improved by surface functionalization
Summary
Mesoporous materials inspired by nature have been developed in the past decades, being attractive because they allow for functional design and applications [1,2]. Mesoporous silica and titania coatings have proved to be promising appliances, since it is possible to deposit them as thin films even on irregular surfaces such as surgical screws [13] They can be used in tissue engineering, taking advantage of their bioactivity: it was demonstrated that SiOH and TiOH groups on the surface of mesoporous silica and titania act as nucleation sites for the formation of apatite crystals when submerged in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) [14,15], enhancing bone regeneration and cell growth. We will focus on applications in the field of regenerative medicine and antimicrobial coatings
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