Thiol-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica for Effective Trap of Mercury in Rats

Figure 1

Schematic demonstration of the detoxification strategy. Here, we prepared thiol-functionalized mesoporous silica as an oral formulation for the prevention and treatment of heavy metal poisoning. In simulated gastrointestinal fluid, thiol-functionalized mesoporous silica can selectively capture heavy metal, showing a very high affinity for inorganic mercury (II). In vivo, the material can significantly decrease the blood and urine mercury levels of the acute mercury poisoning rats.