Abstract
Applications of biomaterials in cancer therapy has been limited to drug delivery systems and markers in radiation therapy. In this article, we introduce the concept of phase-functionalization of silicon to preferentially select cancer cell populations for survival in a catalyst and additive free approach. Silicon is phase-functionalized by the interaction of ultrafast laser pulses, resulting in the formation of rare phases of SiO2 in conjunction with differing silicon crystal lattices. The degree of phase-functionalization is programmed to dictate the degree of repulsion of cancer cells. Unstable phases of silicon oxides are synthesized during phase-functionalization and remain stable at ambient conditions. This change in phase of silicon as well as formation of oxides contributes to changes in surface chemistry as well as surface energy. These material properties elicit in precise control of migration, cytoskeleton shape, direction and population. To the best of our knowledge, phase-functionalized silicon without any changes in topology or additive layers and its applications in cancer therapy has not been reported before. This unique programmable phase-functionalized silicon has the potential to change current trends in cancer research and generate focus on biomaterials as cancer repelling or potentially cancer killing surfaces.
Highlights
While cancer treatment therapies have focussed on nano and micro forms of silicon, cancer diagnostics essentially focuses on bulk silicon as a base
Silicon is innately a biocompatible surface and research has been focussed on its proliferative nature
We introduce the synthesis of phase-functionalized silicon generated through ultrafast laser pulse interaction
Summary
Diagnostic devices often require significant changes to their surface to suit applications To this end, researchers rely on several techniques to change the properties of bulk silicon. Modifications to the surface of silicon are required to allow the precisely controlled growth of cells Characteristics such as cell adhesion, direction and single cell isolation necessitate modifications. Ultrafast laser pulses with nano to microsecond pulse to pulse separation time interact with silicon, modifying its surface without affecting topography This interaction can be precisely manipulated to induce cell controlling zones by creating changes in surface chemistry. The phase-functionalized surface can completely repel cells from its surface via formation of oxide as well as varied crystal structures These unique properties are attributed to the modified silicon surface.
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