title: Mesoporous and biocompatible surface active silica aerogel synthesis using choline formate ionic liquid.
abstract: In this paper, we report the preparation and characterization of mesoporous and biocompatible transparent silica aerogel by the sol-gel polymerization of tetraethyl orthosilicate using ionic liquid. Choline cation based ionic liquid allows the silica framework to form in a non collapsing environment and controls the pore size of the gel. FT-IR spectra reveal the interaction of ionic liquid with surface -OH of the gel. DSC thermogram giving the evidence of confinement of ionic liquid within the silica matrix, which helps to avoid the shrinkage of the gel during the aging process. Nitrogen sorption measurements of gel prepared with ionic liquid exhibit a low surface area of 100.53 m2/g and high average pore size of 3.74 nm. MTT assay proves the biocompatibility and cell viability of the prepared gels. This new nanoporous silica material can be applied to immobilize biological molecules, which may retain their stability over a longer period.
authors.affiliation: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Polymer Division, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India.
authors.forename: Kamal Mohamed Seeni
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Meera
authors.forename: Rajavelu Murali
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sankar
authors.forename: Sellamuthu N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Jaisankar
authors.forename: Asit Baran
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Mandal
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002794:Choline / Q000737:chemistry; D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D044367:Phase Transition; D058105:Polymerization; D016062:Porosity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005561:Formates; D005782:Gels; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D009584:Nitrogen; D002794:Choline