Sol-gel method for encapsulating molecules
- Albuquerque, NM
- San Francisco, CA
A method for encapsulating organic molecules, and in particular, biomolecules using sol-gel chemistry. A silica sol is prepared from an aqueous alkali metal silicate solution, such as a mixture of silicon dioxide and sodium or potassium oxide in water. The pH is adjusted to a suitably low value to stabilize the sol by minimizing the rate of siloxane condensation, thereby allowing storage stability of the sol prior to gelation. The organic molecules, generally in solution, is then added with the organic molecules being encapsulated in the sol matrix. After aging, either a thin film can be prepared or a gel can be formed with the encapsulated molecules. Depending upon the acid used, pH, and other processing conditions, the gelation time can be from one minute up to several days. In the method of the present invention, no alcohols are generated as by-products during the sol-gel and encapsulation steps. The organic molecules can be added at any desired pH value, where the pH value is generally chosen to achieve the desired reactivity of the organic molecules. The method of the present invention thereby presents a sufficiently mild encapsulation method to retain a significant portion of the activity of the biomolecules, compared with the activity of the biomolecules in free solution.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 6495352
- OSTI ID:
- 874945
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Encapsulation of protein molecules in transparent porous silica matrices via an aqueous colloidal sol-gel process
Encapsulation of metal nanocluster catalysts in silica materials via an inverse micelle/sol-gel synthesis
Related Subjects
method
encapsulating
molecules
organic
biomolecules
chemistry
silica
sol
prepared
aqueous
alkali
metal
silicate
solution
mixture
silicon
dioxide
sodium
potassium
oxide
water
ph
adjusted
suitably
value
stabilize
minimizing
rate
siloxane
condensation
allowing
storage
stability
prior
gelation
added
encapsulated
matrix
aging
film
formed
depending
acid
processing
conditions
time
minute
days
alcohols
generated
by-products
encapsulation
steps
chosen
achieve
reactivity
sufficiently
mild
retain
significant
portion
activity
compared
free
alkali metal
silicon dioxide
aqueous alkali
silica sol
sol-gel chemistry
organic molecule
/435/436/