Silicon in living organisms and new-generation biocomposite materials (review)

The effect of silicon compounds on the formation and growth of natural bone tissue is examined, and the concentrations of silicon compounds in different organ tissues are presented. The inductive action of different implantation substrates containing silica on the vital activity of cultures of osteogenic cells is described. It is suggested that the process resulting in bonding between bone tissue and silicate implantation material is affected by the presence of a substantial number of silanol groups on the surface of the material, which determine its high hydrophilicity. It is shown that the solubility of silicate glasses depends on the presence in them of a phase which corresponds to the composition of liquid glass, and its role in the biodegradation of the materials in physiological media is described.