Cell Growth at Cavities Created Inside Silica

MERCEDES PERULLINI; MATÍAS JOBBÁGY; GALO J. A. A. SOLER-ILLIA; SARA A. BILMES

CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Año: 2005 vol. 17 p. 3806 - 3808

0897-4756

Normal cell division and growth inside a “mineral host” has been achieved for the first time, overcoming the limits imposed by cell survival. The diffusion time of nutrients within the porous silica monolith is fast enough to allow growing rates almost indistinguishable from a traditional culture (control). The inorganic matrix provides an effective mechanical barrier for the isolation of contiguous growing cultures.