Mesoporous nanosilica: A thromboprotective nanomaterial for biomedical applications

Nanosilica is widely employed in various biomedical applications because of their tailorable physiochemical properties and excellent biocompatibility. In the present study, we have evaluated interaction of nanosilica with important coagulation components, such as platelets, a highly sensitive cell found in the blood, and coagulation proteins. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were prepared using sol-gel process and characterized by FESEM and TEM to find out the size and shape of the particles. Different platelet functional parameters including platelet adhesion, aggregation, activation, secretion, clot formation and clot retraction-based studies have been carried out to investigate the impact of synthesized nanosilica on the blood coagulation system. Besides, ROS generation and increase in intracellular calcium was also monitored as they play a pivotal role in regulating platelet functions. The complete detailed study revealed that MSNs neither has stimulatory action towards platelets nor do they show any effective interaction with coagulation proteins.