Renny Mathew

“Clickable” SBA-15 mesoporous materials: synthesis, characterization and their reaction with alkynes

SBA-15 mesoporous silica has been functionalized with azidopropyl groups through both one-pot co-condensation and post-synthetic grafting. For both these methodologies, azidopropyltriethoxysilane was used to introduce the azidopropyl groups. The azidopropyl modified SBA-15 material synthesized by one-pot co-condensation had hexagonal crystallographic order, pore diameters up of 50 A, and the content of azidopropyl groups was found to be 1.3 mmol g−1. The presence of the azidopropyl group was confirmed by multinuclear (13C, 29Si) solid state NMR and IR spectroscopy. Both these materials underwent very efficient Cu(I)-catalyzed azide alkyne “click” reaction (CuAAC) with a variety of alkynes. Nearly 85% of the azide present in the SBA-15 material was converted to the corresponding triazole when propargyl alcohol was used as the substrate. This methodology was also used to incorporate mannose into SBA-15. Incubation of this mannose labeled SBA-15 with fluorescein labeled Concanavalin-A led to the formation of a fluorescent silica-protein hybrid material. The ease of synthesis for the azide labeled SBA-15 material together with its ability to undergo very efficient chemoselective CuAAC in water would make it a very attractive platform for the development of covalently anchored catalysts, enzymes and sensors.

Local structures of mesoporous bioactive glasses and their surface alterations in vitro: inferences from solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance

We review the benefits of using 29Si and 1H magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for probing the local structures of both bulk and surface portions of mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) of the CaO–SiO2−(P2O5) system. These mesoporous materials exhibit an ordered pore arrangement, and are promising candidates for improved bone and tooth implants. We discuss experimental MAS NMR results from three MBGs displaying different Ca, Si and P contents: the 29Si NMR spectra were recorded either directly by employing radio-frequency pulses to 29Si, or by magnetization transfers from neighbouring protons using cross polarization, thereby providing quantitative information about the silicate speciation present in the pore wall and at the MBG surface, respectively. The surface modifications were monitored for the three MBGs during their immersion in a simulated body fluid (SBF) for intervals between 30 min and one week. The results were formulated as a reaction sequence describing the interconversions between the distinct silicate species. We generally observed a depletion of Ca2+ ions at the MBG surface, and a minor condensation of the silicate-surface network over one week of SBF soaking.

Solid-State 31P and 1H NMR Investigations of Amorphous and Crystalline Calcium Phosphates Grown Biomimetically From a Mesoporous Bioactive Glass

By exploiting 1H and 31P magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we explore the proton and orthophosphate environments in biomimetic amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and hydroxy-apatite (HA), as grown in vitro at the surface of a 10CaO–85SiO2–5P2O5 mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) in either a simulated body fluid or buffered water. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of a calcium phosphate layer comprising nanocrystalline HA. Two-dimensional 1H–31P heteronuclear correlation NMR established predominantly 1H2O↔31PO43– and O1H↔31PO43– contacts in the amorphous and crystalline component, respectively, of the MBG surface-layer; these two pairs exhibit distinctly different 1H→31P cross-polarization dynamics, revealing a twice as large squared effective 1H–31P dipolar coupling constant in ACP compared with HA. These respective observations are mirrored in synthetic (well-crystalline) HA, and the amorphous calcium orthophosphate (CaP) clusters that are present in the pristine MBG pore walls: besides highlighting very similar local 1H and 31P environments in synthetic and biomimetic HA, our findings evidence closely related NMR characteristics, and thereby similar local structures, of the CaP clusters in the pristine MBG relative to biomimetic ACP.

Multicolor Fluorescent Labeling of Cellulose Nanofibrils by Click Chemistry

We have chemically modified cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) with furan and maleimide groups, and selectively labeled the modified CNF with fluorescent probes; 7-mercapto-4-methylcoumarin and fluorescein diacetate 5-maleimide, through two specific click chemistry reactions: Diels-Alder cycloaddition and the thiol-Michael reaction. Characterization by solid-state (13)C NMR and infrared spectroscopy was used to follow the surface modification and estimate the substitution degrees. We demonstrate that the two luminescent dyes could be selectively labeled onto CNF, yielding a multicolor CNF that was characterized by UV/visible and fluorescence spectroscopies. It was demonstrated that the multicolor CNF could be imaged using a confocal laser scanning microscope.

Toward a Rational Design of Bioactive Glasses with Optimal Structural Features: Composition–Structure Correlations Unveiled by Solid-State NMR and MD Simulations

The physiological responses of silicate-based bioactive glasses (BGs) are known to depend critically on both the P content (nP) of the glass and its silicate network connectivity (N̅BOSi). However, while the bioactivity generally displays a nonmonotonic dependence on nP itself, recent work suggest that it is merely the net orthophosphate content that directly links to the bioactivity. We exploit molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with 31P and 29Si solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to explore the quantitative relationships between N̅BOSi, nP, and the silicate and phosphate speciations in a series of Na2O–CaO–SiO2–P2O5 glasses spanning 2.1 ≤ N̅BOSi ≤ 2.9 and variable P2O5 contents up to 6.0 mol %. The fractional population of the orthophosphate groups remains independent of nP at a fixed N̅BOSi-value, but is reduced slightly as N̅BOSi increases. Nevertheless, P remains predominantly as readily released orthophosphate ions, whose content may be altered essentially independently of the network connectivity, thereby offering a route to optimize the glass bioactivity. We discuss the observed composition-structure links in relation to known composition-bioactivity correlations, and define how Na2O–CaO–SiO2–P2O5 compositions exhibiting an optimal bioactivity can be designed by simultaneously altering three key parameters: the silicate network connectivity, the (ortho)phosphate content, and the nNa/nCa molar ratio.

Quantifying apatite formation and cation leaching from mesoporous bioactive glasses in vitro: a SEM, solid-state NMR and powder XRD study†

By employing solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, we compare the biomimetic growth of calcium hydroxyapatite (HA) from an ordered mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) in simulated body fluid (SBF) and buffered water solutions. For the latter medium, we also examine the effects of using two different MBG concentrations. We evaluate the predicting powers of PXRD and 31P NMR for directly quantifying the relative amounts of biomimetic amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and HA: we observe a very good agreement between the two analytical techniques. Thanks to their mesoporous channel system, fluids readily penetrate throughout sub-mm sized MBG grains, as evidenced by EDX. The latter revealed distinct element-mappings across the material after its exposure to SBF compared to water. Under our in vitro conditions involving relatively high MBG-loadings in the solutions, the HA formation reduces in SBF relative to buffered water, particularly for increasing MBG concentration. These features stem from a high [Ca2+]/[PO3−4] ratio resulting in the fluid medium, which retards the HA crystallization by inducing a rapid ACP precipitation and an accompanying depletion of phosphate ions in the solution. This has bearings on the design of bioactivity comparisons of bioglasses exhibiting significantly different cation compositions.

Na/Ca Intermixing around Silicate and Phosphate Groups in Bioactive Phosphosilicate Glasses Revealed by Heteronuclear Solid- State NMR and Molecular Dynamics Simulations

We characterize the intermixing of network-modifying Na(+)/Ca(2+) ions around the silicate (QSi(n)) and phosphate (QP(n)) tetrahedra in a series of 16 Na2O–CaO–SiO2–P2O5 glasses, whose P content and silicate network connectivity were varied independently. The set includes both bioactive and bioinactive compositions and also encompasses two soda-lime-silicate members devoid of P, as well as two CaO–SiO2 glasses and one Na2O–SiO2–P2O5 glass. The various Si/P↔Na/Ca contacts were probed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations together with heteronuclear magic-angle-spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experimentation utilizing (23)Na{(31)P} and (23)Na{(29)Si} REDOR, as well as (31)P{ (23)Na} and (29)Si{(23)Na} REAPDOR. We introduce an approach for quantifying the extent of Na(+)/Ca(2+) ordering around a given QP(n) or QSi(n) group, encoded by the preference factor 0⩽ PM ⩽ 1 conveying the relative weights of a random cation intermixing (PM = 0) and complete preference/ordering (PM = 1) for one of the species M, which represents either Na(+) or Ca(2+). The MD-derived preference factors reveal phosphate and silicate species surrounded by Na(+)/Ca(2+) ions intermixed nearly randomly (PM ≲ 0.15), except for the QSi(4) and QSi(1) groups, which manifest more significant cation ordering with preference for Na+ and Ca2+, respectively. The overall weak preferences are essentially independent of the Si and P contents of the glass, whereas PM primarily correlates with the total amount of network modifiers: as the latter is increased, the Na/Ca distribution around the {QP(0), QSi(1), QSi(2)} groups with preference for Ca2(+ )tend to randomize (i.e., PCa decreases), while the PNa-values grow slightly for the {QP(1), QSi(3), QSi(4)} species already preferring coordination of Na. The set of experimental preference factors {PCa} for the orthophosphate (QP(0)) groups extracted from (31)P{(23)Na} REAPDOR NMR-derived M2(P–Na) dipolar second moments agrees well with the MD-generated counterparts. Our results on the Na/Ca intermixing in soda-lime-silicate glasses are discussed in relation to previous reports, highlighting the dependence of the conclusion on the approach to data evaluation.

Gelation of covalently edge-modified laponites in aqueous media. 1. rheology and nuclear magnetic resonance.

We describe the covalent modification of the edges of laponite with organic groups and the influence of this modification on gelation behavior. We compare three materials: an unmodified laponite, a laponite edge modified with a trimethyl moiety (MLap), and an octyldimethyl moiety (OLap). Gelation is investigated using rheology and NMR T1 relaxation measurements and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY). MLap and OLap show qualitatively different gelation. Gelation of MLap is very similar to laponite: MLap gels over the same time scale as laponite and has about the same solid modulus, and the MLap gel is almost as transparent as laponite. In contrast, OLap gels rapidly relative to laponite and forms a weak, turbid gel. We believe that gelation in laponite and MLap results from the formation of a network of well-dispersed platelets (or a few platelets), while in OLap, gelation results from a network of stacks of several platelets. NMR relaxation measurements indicate that gelation does not affect the average relaxation of water protons. However, T1 increases marginally for the protons in the organic moieties in MLap and decreases for protons in the organic moieties in OLap. Relaxation measurements, analyses of line width, and NOESY taken together suggest that, in OLap, gelation is a consequence of association of the organic moieties on the laponite edges, and that this association strengthens with time. Thus, the time-dependent changes in NMR suggest a structural origin for the time-dependent changes in the rheological behavior.

Proton Environments in Biomimetic Calcium Phosphates Formed from Mesoporous Bioactive CaO–SiO2–P2O5 Glasses in Vitro: Insights from Solid-State NMR

When exposed to body fluids, mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) of the CaO–SiO2–P2O5 system develop a bone-bonding surface layer that initially consists of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), which transforms into hydroxy-carbonate apatite (HCA) with a very similar composition as bone/dentin mineral. Information from various 1H-based solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments was combined to elucidate the evolution of the proton speciations both at the MBG surface and within each ACP/HCA constituent of the biomimetic phosphate layer formed when each of three MBGs with distinct Ca, Si, and P contents was immersed in a simulated body fluid (SBF) for variable periods between 15 min and 30 days. Directly excited magic-angle-spinning (MAS) 1H NMR spectra mainly reflect the MBG component, whose surface is rich in water and silanol (SiOH) moieties. Double-quantum–single-quantum correlation 1H NMR experimentation at fast MAS revealed their interatomic proximities. The comparatively minor H species of each ACP and HCA component were probed selectively by heteronuclear 1H–31P NMR experimentation. The initially prevailing ACP phase comprises H2O and “nonapatitic” HPO42–/PO43– groups, whereas for prolonged MBG soaking over days, a well-progressed ACP → HCA transformation was evidenced by a dominating O1H resonance from HCA. We show that 1H-detected 1H → 31P cross-polarization NMR is markedly more sensitive than utilizing powder X-ray diffraction or 31P NMR for detecting the onset of HCA formation, notably so for P-bearing (M)BGs. In relation to the long-standing controversy as to whether bone mineral comprises ACP and/or forms via an ACP precursor, we discuss a recently accepted structural core–shell picture of both synthetic and biological HCA, highlighting the close relationship between the disordered surface layer and ACP.

Formation of hydrous stishovite from coesite in high-pressure hydrothermal environments

Abstract In low-temperature, high-pressure hydrothermal environments coesite transforms into hydrous forms of stishovite. We studied hydrous stishovite produced from hydrothermal treatment of silica glass as initial SiO2 source at temperatures of 350–550 °C and pressures around 10 GPa. The P-T quenched samples were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal analysis, and IR and magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The presence of significant amounts of H2O (ranging from 0.5 to 3 wt%) is shown from thermogravimetric measurements. PXRD reveals that at temperatures below 400 °C, hydrous stishovite is obtained as two distinct phases that may relate to the solid ice-VII environment present at prevailing P-T conditions. Initially formed hydrous stishovite is metastable and dehydrates over time in the low-temperature, high-pressure hydrothermal environment. The primary mechanism of H incorporation in stishovite is a direct substitution of 4H+ for Si4+ yielding unique octahedral hydrogarnet defects. In IR spectra this defect manifests itself by two broad but distinct bands at 2650 and 2900 cm–1, indicating strong hydrogen bonding. These bands are shifted in the deuteride to 2029 and 2163 cm–1, respectively. Protons of the octahedral hydrogarnet defect produce