Functionalizing Inorganic Solids: Towards Organic–Inorganic Nanostructured Materials for Intelligent and Bioinspired Systems

Abstract

The design, preparation, and properties of organic-inorganic hybrid compounds are described and discussed with respect to their potential uses as intelligent and bioinspired materials. Several synthesis strategies based on intercalation in 2D solids, the grafting of organic groups onto silica and silicates, and the self-assembly of organo-silica materials are presented, focusing on the soft procedures that are used to modify the functionality of the inorganic substrates. The combination of both organic and inorganic moieties at the nanometer level forms the basis for preparing multifunctional solids that are provided with specific functions in response to different types of stimuli. In some cases these resemble materials that are found in biological systems. Examples include organic-inorganic membranes that are based on intercalated macrocyclic compounds and bi-layer vesicles that consist of alkyl long-chains arranged either in the confined region of layered silicates or as self-organized organo-silica micelles. The role of certain hybrid materials such as membranes provides a different approach to the development of artificial liposomes and other mimetic systems that have an organic-inorganic composition and nanostructural organization. Their potential uses for DDS or DNA-dense phases are also discussed and novel alternatives to bioinspired systems development are proposed.

Preparation and characterization of alginate and hydroxyapatite‐based biocomposite

“…19 The driving forces behind assembling of such building blocks are essentially hydrogen-bonding, van der Waals, electrostatic forces and electron-transfer interactions. 20 In bone tissue engineering, deposition of a matrix and subsequent mineralization are required for the development of tissue to form the new bone. 21 In this work, alginate chains were employed as a template for the growth of the inorganic component, HAp, and Ca ions present in the hydroxyapatite were exploited to partially crosslink the alginate, which can later be used as a scaffold for bone growth.…”

New Bio-ceramization process applied to vegetable hierarchical structures for bone regeneration: an experimental model in sheep.

“…So far, the development of three-dimensional synthetic systems with hierarchical architecture have been limited by the currently available processing technology. 54,55 In recent years, material scientists have focused their attention on natural structures (e.g., shells, nacre, and wood, plants) and to their astonishing mechanical properties, generated by the complex and hierarchical organization of their structure. 56 Woods have a porous structure similar to that of bone; 57 consequently, they manifest similar properties, that is, high elasticity, lightness, and strength.…”

Intercalative Ion‐Exchange Route to Amino Acid Layered Double Hydroxide Nanohybrids and Their Sorption Properties

“…A layered double hydroxide (LDH), also known as a hydrotalcite-like compound or an anionic clay, is a unique kind of compound in terms of anion exchange ability. [1][2][3][4] The general formula of LDHs is described as [ [5][6][7][8][9] The crystal structure of a LDH is quite similar to that of brucite, Mg(OH) 2 , where Mg 2+ ions are octahedrally coordinated with six hydroxo ligands to form octahedrons. Octahedrons formed in this way are bound to one another by sharing edges to form infinite sheets.…”