Home
Resources
Publications
Silicon Nitride: A Bioceramic With a Gift

Silicon Nitride: A Bioceramic With a Gift

Giuseppe Pezzotti

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2019 Jul 31;11(30):26619-26636.

PMID: 31251018

Abstract:

In the closing decades of the 20th century, silicon nitride (Si3N4) was extensively developed for high-temperature gas turbine applications. Technologists attempted to take advantage of its superior thermal and mechanical properties to improve engine reliability and fuel economy. Yet, this promise was never realized in spite of the worldwide research, which was conducted at that time. Notwithstanding this disappointment, its use in medical applications in the early 21st century has been an unexpected gift. While retaining all of its engineered mechanical properties, it is now recognized for its peculiar surface chemistry. When immersed in an aqueous environment, the slow elution of silicon and nitrogen from its surface enhances healing of soft and osseous tissue, inhibits bacterial proliferation, and eradicates viruses. These benefits permit it to be used in a wide array of different disciplines inside and outside of the human body including orthopedics, dentistry, virology, agronomy, and environmental remediation. Given the global public health threat posed by mutating viruses and bacteria, silicon nitride offers a valid and straightforward alternative approach to fighting these pathogens. However, there is a conundrum behind these recent discoveries: How can this unique bioceramic be both friendly to mammalian cells while concurrently lysing invasive pathogens? This unparalleled characteristic can be explained by the pH-dependent kinetics of two ammonia species-NH4+ and NH3-both of which are leached from the wet Si3N4 surface.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP12033895	Silicon nitride		12033-89-5	Price

As a specialist in analytical chemical Products, Alfa Chemistry offers consumers a wealth of raw materials and a full range of technologies and services.

QUICK LINKS

HEADQUARTERS

Tel:

Fax:

Email: