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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application
Published on: March 8, 2019
Efficient Catalysis of Polysiloxane Synthesis by Silicatein α Requires Specific Hydroxy and Imidazole Functionalities
Yan Zhou1, Katsuhiko Shimizu1, Jennifer N Cha2
1Marine Biotechnology Center, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9610 (USA).
Abstract:
A protein isolated from a biosilica (shown schematically) catalyzes alkoxysilane polycondensation at neutral pH values and low temperatures. Replacement of either of two specific side chain functionalities (Ser-26 and His-165) significantly diminishes catalysis, supporting a reaction mechanism analogous to that of a well-known enzyme that is highly homologous to the silica protein. These results may be useful in the development of synthetic catalysts for environmentally benign synthesis of polysiloxanes.
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