Bio-doped nanocomposite polymers: Sol-gel bioencapsulates

The period from 1970s to 1980s witnessed notable interdisciplinary breakthr oughs in sol-gel science with demonstrations that this technology could be extended to the encapsulation of functional biomolecules such as enzymes an d antibodies within ceramic matrixes. Since these landmark studies, some of nature's most sensitive biological materials, including proteins, DNA, RNA , and antigens as well as more complex assemblages such as cell membranes a nd organelles, and even living microbial, plant, and animal cells, have bee n entrapped in inorganic and inorganic-organic hybrid sol-gel polymers. Bio encapsulation retains not only the structural integrity of the entrapped bi omolecules but also, more importantly, their full biological functioning-fr om molecular recognition, catalysis, and signal transduction to sustained c ell metabolism and reproduction. The ability to marry the physicochemical f eatures of inorganic, hybrid, and composite polymers with the selective bin ding, catalytic, and biosynthetic functions of biological materials has ena bled the fabrication of novel high-performance bioactive nanocomposites for sensor, catalyst, diagnostic, and electronics applications.