Study of zeolite clinoptilolite d-glucose adsorption properties in vitro and in vivo.

Beneficial effects of a natural zeolite clinoptilolite in vivo on mammals, including humans, have been empirically observed and documented in literature. The positive biological activities have been associated to its detoxifying and antioxidative properties, and its immunostimulative and adsorption properties. Herein, we present the in vitro and in vivo study of clinoptilolite zeolite materials adsorption properties for d-glucose. In particular, we present data on the interaction of d-glucose on the tested zeolites' surface obtained by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and quantification by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). We also present results on the reduction of blood glucose levels in mice pre-treated with clinoptilolite in vivo upon feeding with d-glucose. In vivo results were in line with the in vitro adsorption and/or interaction properties of tested zeolite materials for d-glucose and were quantified by UHPLC as well (11.34% for TMAZ; 10.82% for PMA and 8.76% for PMAO2). In vivo experiments in mice showed that PMA zeolite reduces blood glucose levels upon 15 min for 13% (at p < 0.05) up to 19.11% upon 120 min (without statistical significance) in clinoptilolite pre-treated mice fed by addition of d-glucose. Due to lack of explicit mechanistic knowledge on zeolite clinoptilolite interactions or adsorption with sugars in vitro and in vivo, presented study provides novel insights into these aspects for researchers in the field. The presented data merit further investigations as the material clearly shows a potential in management of hyperglycemia, such as for example in obese people, people with diabetes and people with metabolic syndrome where it could help regulate blood glucose levels.

Building organosilica hybrid nanohemispheres via thiol-ene click reaction on alumina thin films deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD).

The present work shows a surface-induced preparation of sub-100 nm organosilica nanohemispheres on atomic layer deposited (ALD) Al2O3 thin films, which was achieved by cooperative condensation/hydrolysis and thiol-ene click chemical reactions. The two-step synthetic approach consists of an initial silanization of the Al2O3 film with vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), followed by a photo-promoted growth of surface-bound nanoparticles in the presence of (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS). Characterization by means of FE-SEM, XPS and EDS points towards the growth of the nanohemispherical structures being governed by an initial nucleation of thiolated organosilica seeds in solution as a result of self-condensation of MPTMS and oxidation of thiols to disulfides. Once bound to the vinyl terminated Al2O3via photo-assisted thiol-ene coupling, these seeds promote area-selective growth of the nanoparticles through binding of further MPTMS from the solution. After an additional ALD deposition of ZnO, the resulting thin hybrid film exhibits enhanced hydrophobicity when compared to ZnO films deposited directly on Al2O3 under the same processing conditions.