Tunable functional coverage of biocompatible magnesium silicate nanotubes by microwave-assisted silanization

Abstract

The controlled synthesis of biocompatible nanomaterials with tailored composition, size, and functionalities has driven the advancement of nanomedicine, enabling the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. A key challenge in this field is the design of nano-objects exhibiting multiple functionalities, each dedicated to a specific diagnostic or therapeutic purpose. Among these, synthetic stoichiometric chrysotile nanotubes stand out as a highly biocompatible class of non-carbon nanotubes, already demonstrating their potential for diverse applications, including fluorescence, magnetism, singlet-oxygen generation, and scintillation. Expanding this functional versatility, we report a finely tunable approach for controlling the surface silanization using 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane. This is achieved via a microwave-assisted synthesis, which enables mild reaction conditions and significantly reduces processing time. A comprehensive multi-technique characterization is employed to elucidate the structural and chemical features of the mineral–silane interface and the underlying reaction mechanism.