Synthesis Methods
There are several chemical methods used for synthesizing mesoporous silicon dioxide, with sol-gel processing being the most common. In a typical sol-gel reaction, silica precursors like tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) are reacted with surfactants like cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in an acidic or basic environment. The surfactant molecules spontaneously assemble into liquid crystals that templated the formation of ordered silica structures around the pores. Removing the surfactant template later leaves behind the porous silica framework. Continuous improvements to sol-gel parameters now allow tailoring of pore size, shape, and surface area. Recently developed methods like evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) have also expanded processing capabilities.

Applications in Drug Delivery
Mesoporous silicon dioxide is an ideal candidate for drug delivery due to its large surface areas and tunable pore sizes for encapsulating and slowly releasing therapeutic agents. Drugs can be loaded into the pores either by soaking or co-condensation during material synthesis. Release rates are easily controlled by pore structure and surface functionalization. Several mesoporous silicon dioxide formulations are now in clinical trials for delivering anti-cancer drugs with reduced toxicity compared to free drug forms. Looking ahead, stimuli-responsive nano carriers that release drug payloads in response to specific biological cues like pH or enzymes hold great promise.

Use in Bio separations
The large interior volumes and surface areas also make Global Mesoporous Silica attractive supports for immobilizing biomolecules like proteins and enzymes for applications in affinity chromatography and bio separations. Enzymes entrapped in the pores retain their native conformations and catalytic activities for extended periods. Mesoporous silicon dioxide supports offer greater stability against denaturation compared to traditional gel entrapment methods. Emerging areas of interest involve developing mesoporous silicon dioxide membranes for continuous flow bio reactors and preparing chiral stationary phases for enantiomeric separations.

Role in Catalysis
Ordered mesoporous silicon dioxide function as excellent heterogeneous catalyst supports due to their tunable pore structures and high surface areas. Metals particles incorporated within the pores exhibit superior activity and recyclability compared to bulk metal catalysts due to improved metal dispersion and accessibility of reactants. Common applications involve catalysing hydrocarbon reactions like isomerization, hydrogenation and reforming. Efforts are ongoing to development multifunctional catalyst platforms utilizing the internal pore surfaces for cooperative catalysis involving acid, base and redox sites.

Growing Commercial Potential
The unique material properties of mesoporous silica continue to drive innovations across diverse fields. North America presently dominates demand spurred by active research in drug delivery applications. The Asia Pacific region is expected to showcase strongest growth over the coming years led by expanding industrial activities in China, India and Southeast Asia utilizing mesoporous silica in petrochemicals, catalysts and food industries. Further commercialization of clinical-stage formulations and continuous expansion of mesoporous silicon dioxide encapsulation technologies bodes well for market players. Overcoming technical bottlenecks in upscaling production will be key to sustaining long-term growth momentum.

Get more insights on Global Mesoporous Silica