Diatoms Biosilica as Efficient Drug-Delivery System. Issue 57 (23rd December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vona, Danilo; Leone, Gabriella; Ragni, Roberta; Palumbo, Fabio; Evidente, Antonio; Vurro, Maurizio; Farinola, Gianluca M.; Cicco, Stefania R.
• Is Part Of: MRS advances. Volume 1:Issue 57(2016)
• Page Start: 3825
• Page End: 3830
• Publication Date: 2015-12-23
• Subjects: biomaterial, -- scanning electron microscopy (SEM), -- Si; Electrical engineering -- Congresses; Physics -- Congresses; Materials -- Research -- Congresses; Materials science -- Congresses; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/adv.2015.22
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-8521

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Diatoms are the most abundant resource of biosilica on Earth. These microalgae are encased in a 3-D amorphous silica "shell" called frustule whose size and morphology is strictly dependent on the diatom species. Naturally nanostructured biosilica from diatoms exhibit unique adsorption and confinement properties useful for delivery of molecules of pharmacological interest.In this work fossil biosilica was used as a carrier for Ophiobolin A (a fungal macrolide with anticancer and antiparasitic properties), with the aim to develop a model system of Ophiobolin A loading / delivery. Ophiobolin A delivery properties of fossil diatoms were investigated by spectophotometric analyses.