Adsorption of L-histidine (LH) over mesoporous SBA-15 silicas functionalized by amine-, thiol-and cyano-functional groups has been studied. These organosilicas have been synthesized by co-condensation of proper monomers in the presence of a template (Pluronic P-123), and characterized by elemental analysis, nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The highest LH static adsorption capacity was observed for the cyano-functionalized sample [approximately 70 mg g -1 (450 mol g ).