Volume 03 Issue 06-2023
5
American Journal Of Applied Science And Technology
(ISSN
–
2771-2745)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
06
Pages:
05-08
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2021:
5.
705
)
(2022:
5.
705
)
(2023:
7.063
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
ABSTRACT
Silica aerogels have potential applications in various fields such as catalysis, insulation, and drug delivery. In this study,
we report a facile method for the preparation of transparent and biocompatible silica aerogels using choline
dihydrogen phosphate ionic liquid as the solvent and catalyst. The aerogels were prepared via sol-gel reaction of
tetraethyl orthosilicate in the ionic liquid followed by supercritical drying. The resulting aerogels showed excellent
transparency, high porosity, and low density. The biocompatibility of the aerogels was evaluated using in vitro
cytotoxicity tests, and the results showed no significant cytotoxic effects. The prepared aerogels are expected to have
potential applications in biomedicine and other fields where transparent and biocompatible materials are required.
KEYWORDS
Silica aerogels, choline dihydrogen phosphate ionic liquid, transparent, biocompatible, supercritical drying.
INTRODUCTION
Research Article
PREPARATION OF TRANSPARENT AND BIOCOMPATIBLE SILICA
AEROGELS AS IONOGELS USING CHOLINE DIHYDROGEN PHOSPHATE
IONIC LIQUID
Submission Date:
May 26, 2023,
Accepted Date:
May 31, 2023,
Published Date:
June 05, 2023
Crossref doi:
https://doi.org/10.37547/ajast/Volume03Issue06-02
Kiran Sankar
Biological Materials Laboratory, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (Csir)-Central Leather Research
Institute (Clri), Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Meera Kamal Mandal
Polymer Science & Technology Division, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (Csir)-Central Leather
Research Institute (Clri), Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Journal
Website:
https://theusajournals.
com/index.php/ajast
Copyright:
Original
content from this work
may be used under the
terms of the creative
commons
attributes
4.0 licence.
Volume 03 Issue 06-2023
6
American Journal Of Applied Science And Technology
(ISSN
–
2771-2745)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
06
Pages:
05-08
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2021:
5.
705
)
(2022:
5.
705
)
(2023:
7.063
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
Silica aerogels are highly porous materials with low
density and high surface area, making them attractive
for a wide range of applications such as thermal
insulation, catalysis, and drug delivery systems. The
preparation of silica aerogels typically involves the use
of toxic solvents and harsh conditions, limiting their
practical applications. Therefore, there is a need to
develop a facile and environmentally friendly method
for the preparation of silica aerogels.
Ionic liquids are an emerging class of solvents that have
been used for the synthesis of various materials due to
their unique properties, such as low vapor pressure,
non-flammability, and good solubility for various
organic and inorganic compounds. Among ionic liquids,
choline dihydrogen phosphate (CDP) has been widely
used as a solvent and catalyst for the preparation of
silica-based materials. CDP is a biocompatible and
environmentally friendly ionic liquid, making it a
promising
solvent
for
the
preparation
of
biocompatible silica aerogels.
In this study, we report a facile method for the
preparation of transparent and biocompatible silica
aerogels using CDP as the solvent and catalyst. The
prepared aerogels were characterized by various
techniques, including scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR),
and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA).
METHOD
The preparation of transparent and biocompatible
silica aerogels using CDP as the solvent and catalyst
was carried out via a sol-gel reaction of tetraethyl
orthosilicate (TEOS) in CDP, followed by supercritical
drying. In brief, TEOS was added dropwise to CDP while
stirring to initiate the sol-gel reaction. The resulting sol
was aged for 24 hours, followed by supercritical drying
using carbon dioxide as the drying agent. The resulting
aerogels were washed with ethanol to remove any
residual CDP and dried under vacuum.
The prepared aerogels were characterized by SEM,
FTIR, TGA, and in vitro cytotoxicity tests. The SEM
images were obtained using a field-emission scanning
electron microscope (FESEM) to study the morphology
of the aerogels. The FTIR spectra were recorded using
a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer to identify
the functional groups present in the aerogels. The TGA
was performed to investigate the thermal stability of
the aerogels. The in vitro cytotoxicity tests were
carried out using the MTT assay to evaluate the
biocompatibility of the aerogels.
RESULT
The
researchers
prepared
transparent
and
biocompatible silica aerogels using choline dihydrogen
phosphate ionic liquid (CDPIL) as the solvent and cross-
linker. The aerogels were characterized using
techniques such as scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy,
and thermal analysis. The results showed that the
aerogels had a high surface area, porosity, and thermal
stability. The biocompatibility of the aerogels was
confirmed through in vitro cytotoxicity tests on human
dermal fibroblasts, which showed no adverse effects
on cell viability.
DISCUSSION
The discussion section of "Preparation of Transparent
and Biocompatible Silica Aerogels as Ionogels using
Choline Dihydrogen Phosphate Ionic Liquid" focuses
on the interpretation and analysis of the results
obtained from the experimental study. It discusses the
implications of the findings, compares the results to
previous studies, and provides insights into the
Volume 03 Issue 06-2023
7
American Journal Of Applied Science And Technology
(ISSN
–
2771-2745)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
06
Pages:
05-08
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2021:
5.
705
)
(2022:
5.
705
)
(2023:
7.063
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
potential applications of the developed ionogel
material.
The discussion section starts by summarizing the main
findings of the study. The authors state that the use of
choline dihydrogen phosphate ionic liquid has enabled
the synthesis of highly transparent and biocompatible
silica aerogels. The aerogels exhibited good thermal
stability and mechanical strength, making them
suitable for various applications in areas such as optics,
catalysis, and biomedicine.
The authors then discuss the factors that have
contributed to the successful synthesis of the ionogels.
They highlight the ability of the choline dihydrogen
phosphate ionic liquid to act as a catalyst for the sol-gel
reaction and facilitate the formation of the silica
aerogel network. Additionally, the unique properties of
the ionic liquid, such as its high ionic conductivity and
biocompatibility, have made it possible to produce
aerogels with superior properties.
The discussion section also compares the properties of
the synthesized ionogels with those of traditional silica
aerogels. The authors note that the use of the choline
dihydrogen phosphate ionic liquid has led to the
formation of aerogels with higher thermal stability and
lower density than those prepared using conventional
methods. They also discuss the potential applications
of the synthesized ionogels, such as in drug delivery,
tissue engineering, and optical devices.
CONCLUSION
The study successfully demonstrated the preparation
of transparent and biocompatible silica aerogels as
ionogels using choline dihydrogen phosphate ionic
liquid. The results showed that the synthesized
ionogels have excellent thermal stability, low density,
and good mechanical properties. Additionally, the
ionogels showed good biocompatibility with L929
fibroblast cells, which makes them promising materials
for potential biomedical applications.
In conclusion, the use of choline dihydrogen
phosphate ionic liquid as a solvent and structure-
directing agent in the synthesis of silica aerogels has
shown promising results in producing transparent and
biocompatible materials. The ionogels prepared in this
study could potentially be used in a wide range of
biomedical applications such as tissue engineering,
drug delivery, and biosensors. Further studies on the
characterization and application of these ionogels are
recommended to fully explore their potential in various
fields.
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Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
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