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Title:

Iron(III)-Doped, Silica Nanoshells: A Biodegradable Form of Silica

Date:

8/2012

Link to Journal Abstract

Abstract:

Silica nanoparticles are being investigated for a number of medical applications; however, their use in vivo has been questioned because of the potential for bioaccumulation. To obviate this problem, silica nanoshells were tested for enhanced biodegradability by doping iron(III) into the nanoshells. Exposure of the doped silica to small molecule chelators and mammalian serum was explored to test whether the removal of iron(III) from the silica nanoshell structure would facilitate its degradation. Iron chelators, such as EDTA, desferrioxamine, and deferiprone, were found to cause the nanoshells to degrade on the removal of iron(III) within several days at 80 �C. When the iron(III)-doped, silica nanoshells were submerged in fetal bovine and human serums at physiological temperature, they also degrade via removal of the iron by serum proteins, such as transferrin, over a period of several weeks.

Non-technical Summary:

In this study, silica nanoshells were tested for enhanced biodegradability by doping iron(III) into the nanoshells. Exposure of the doped silica to small molecule chelators and mammalian serum was explored to test whether the removal of iron(III) from the silica nanoshell structure would facilitate its degradation.

Content Emphasis

Peer Reviewed Journal Article

Exposure Or Hazard Target

Mammalian

Exposure Pathway

Other/Unspecified

Method Of Study

Material Analysis and Applications

Paper Type

Applications

Particle Type

Oxide