*Zeolites - New Challenges*

[16] Ivanchov M. Inverse Problems for Equations of Parabolic Type. Mathematical Studies. Monograph Series. Vol. 10. Lviv: VNTL Publishers; 2003

**Chapter 3**

**Abstract**

materials and active scaffolds.

cell cultures, food analysis

**1. Introduction**

**35**

Zeolites as Chameleon

Biomaterials: Adsorption of

Human Cells, and Metals on

Physics-Chemical Properties

Proteins, Enzymes, Foods, Drugs,

Zeolite Membranes with Versatile

*Adalgisa Tavolaro, Silvia Catalano and Palmira Tavolaro*

This chapter is dedicated to demonstrating how both the hydrothermal synthesis of crystalline zeolites with precise atomic compositions and the knowledge of their physics-chemical characteristics allow designing selective materials, useful as powerful tools for biomedical applications. The adsorption of proteins and

enzymes, dyes, and drugs and the preparation of scaffolds for in vitro testing of new food and cosmetic formulations are discussed according to the configuration, the composition, and the morphology of prepared materials. Finally, the study of the chemical, molecular, and supramolecular interactions between interesting biological species, drugs, cells, and synthetic materials was used to produce advanced

**Keywords:** zeolite membranes, adsorption, proteins and enzymes, drug delivery,

The problem of creating excellent biomaterials is a scientific challenge with enormous effects on the economy and health field. Today, synthetic zeolitic materials are probably an opportunity to prepare a successful alternative to traditional biomaterials. Study, chemical design, and manufacture of various inorganic structures allow to have active biomaterials which, in all applications, avoid unwanted responses of the body such as thrombosis [1], inflammatory reactions [2], and infections [3, 4]. In fact, the chemical and physical characteristics of the internal and external surfaces of these microporous materials lend themselves to well interact with exchangeable and reactive ions (e.g., toward drugs and microbes), with proteins (preserving their biological reactivity), and with cells (being noncytotoxic). Certainly, the chemical approach must be modified by replacing the traditional parameters used to characterize biomaterials with novel concepts such as

[17] Lenyuk M, Petryk M. The Methods of Integral Transforms of Fourier-Bessel with Spectral Parameter in Problems of Mathematical Modeling of the Mass Exchange Process in Heterogeneous Medias. Кyiv: Naukova Dumka; 2000
