Many plant systems accumulate silica in solid form, creating intracellular or extracellular silica bodies, the so-called phytoliths, which are essential for growth, mechanical strength, rigidity, predator defence and leaf stiffness. Silica is an inorganic amorphous oxide formed by polymerization processes within plants. There has been much research in order to gain new insights into the biochemical processes and to mimic biosilicification. The nanotechnology potential of using plant silica bodies has been realized by several researchers for developing biomimetic devices and in the making of new bionanofunctional materials. In parallel to the rapid rise of the idea of growing nanotechnology by using diatoms, we have examined and synthesized information on plant slilica bodies, plant silica uptake mechanisms, and its bio-nano technological applications and the possible ways of producing biogenic silica bodies with new functions.
Bionanotechnology Laboratory
Suresh Neethirajan
School of Engineering
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario
Canada N1G 2W1
Office:
Room 2340, Tower Office
Thornbrough Building
50 Stone Road East
Lab: OVC VMI building
Phone: (519) 824-4120 Ext 53922
Fax: (519) 836-0227
E-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Map of the campus