Nanofunctional Silica Particles with Organosilica Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional silica particles, particularly those made from TEOS, have limitations such as high manufacturing costs, low chemical reactivity, and difficulty in incorporating functional materials, which restrict their multifunctionality and application in biomedical imaging and treatment.
Innovation Solution
Development of nanofunctional silica particles with a double structure comprising a silica shell made from organosilica compounds like MPS, MPES, and a core containing magnetic materials, gold colloids, or quantum dots, allowing for the incorporation of functional materials like fluorescent agents and enabling multimodal imaging and treatment capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional TEOS is used as starting material for silica particles, then the particles can be manufactured, but the surface layers have low chemical reactivity and bonding capability to foreign proteins or nucleic acids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite silica particles containing multiple silica compounds (TEOS, MPS, MPES, etc.) within the particle structure. This allows the core to provide structural integrity while the surface contains functional groups with high bonding capability, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and bonding performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates particles with non-uniform composition where different regions have different properties. The core region contains TEOS for structural stability, while the surface region contains MPS or MPES for enhanced bonding capability, allowing each region to optimize its function locally.
2Reliability
If MPS or MPES is used to activate silica particles surface, then bonding capability is improved, but manufacturing costs increase and manufacturing steps become complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple silica compounds (TEOS, MPS, MPES) into a single particle manufacturing process. By merging the activation function into the particle synthesis itself rather than requiring separate activation steps, the process complexity is reduced while maintaining high bonding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates functional silica compounds (MPS, MPES) during the initial particle formation process rather than adding them later. This preliminary incorporation of functional groups simplifies the overall manufacturing process by eliminating subsequent activation steps.
3Area of stationary object
If MPS particles with pores are manufactured to enlarge surface area, then surface area is increased, but the effective adhesive area becomes diversified and quantitation problems arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates particles with uniform composition and structure, avoiding the pore formation that leads to heterogeneous adhesive areas. By using controlled silica compound ratios and uniform manufacturing conditions, the particles achieve homogeneous surface properties that enable precise quantitation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple silica compounds are used to create double structure particles, then functionality is enhanced, but manufacturing time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple silica compounds into a single-step co-condensation process. By combining TEOS, MPS, and MPES in predetermined ratios and allowing them to react simultaneously, the patent achieves multifunctional particles without requiring sequential manufacturing steps, thus maintaining high productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The nanofunctional silica particles offer enhanced functionality, improved chemical reactivity, and reduced production time, enabling their use in both macro- and micro-observation, as well as in various medical imaging and treatment modalities like CT, PET, and MRI, while maintaining the integrity of bonded substances.
Implementation Method 1
a shell made mainly of silica obtained from one or more organosilica compounds
Implementation Method 2
silica obtained from one or more organosilica compounds selected from the group consisting of mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPS), mercaptopropyl triethoxysilane (MPES)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are nanofunctional silica particles having excellent functionality and quality, and capable of being mass-produced at low costs. According to the present invention, there are provided nanofunctional silica particles including a coating layer containing one or more silica compounds selected from the group consisting of mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPS), mercaptopropyl triethoxysilane (MPES), mercaptopropyl methyldimethoxysilane (MPDMS), trimethoxy[2-(7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]-hept-3-yl)ethyl]silane (EpoPS), thiocyanatopropyl triethoxysilane (TCPS), acryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (ACPS), and aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APS); and functional particles in the coating layer, and being used in imaging, assay, diagnosis, treatment or the like, medicine or bioresearch.