title: Sol-gel chemistry in medicinal science.
abstract: The sol-gel process is an inorganic polymerization process taking place in mild conditions, allowing the association of mineral phases with organic or biological systems. The possibility to immobilize drugs, enzymes, antibodies and even whole cells without loss of their biological activity led to the development of diagnostic tools, drug delivery carriers as well as new hosts for artificial organ design. These systems take profit from the wide variety of chemical compositions, dimensions and forms that can be achieved via sol-gel chemistry. Recent advances involve multi-functional "smart" devices combining biocompatibility, biological activity and stimuli-responsive materials. The design of such novel devices with significant added value when compared to current products is probably a key factor when foreseeing industrial developments of sol-gel materials in medicinal science.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matiére Condensée, CNRS-UMR 7574, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. coradin@ccr.jussieu.fr
authors.forename: Thibaud
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coradin
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boissière
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Livage
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D015510:Clinical Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D004339:Drug Compounding; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000379:methods*; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D044367:Phase Transition; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D012822:Silicon Dioxide