Structure swelling agents in the synthesis of mesoporous silica

• Grant number: 21/13055-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2022
• End date: January 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Marcia Carvalho de Abreu Fantini
• Grantee: Daniel Antunes de Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/17844-8 - Nanostructured silica as a protective vehicle for vaccines and biomolecules, AP.TEM

Abstract

This research project aims to use 3 different structure swelling agents in the synthesis of mesoporous silica SBA-15 in order to obtain a mean pore diameter of at least 16 nm, determined by sorption measurements. Different concentrations of the swelling agents will be tested. Changes in the structure will be analyzed by Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). These silicas will be used to encapsulate tetanus anatoxin. (AU)