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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Siliceous materials are the principal components of Earth's crust and also have become key ingredients of modem technology. Recently, we have expanded our chemical characterization of complex silicates (e.g., framework [1] and sheet types [2]) to include studies of their interaction with select biocells [3,4]. It is becoming apparent that the surface chemistry of these silicates, and perhaps that of silica itself, plays a key role in the oft resulting cell pathogenesis, thus enhancing the value of further investigations with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The present research describes the unique growth of Ehrlich (murine or rat tumor) cells on Sio and SiO2 wafers, and also on select seaentine silicates (such as chrysotile asbestos). Tbese growth studies were followed by both cell/silicate separations and unique freeze drying [3,4]. XPS examination at select stages discovered cell induced alterations in the Si, O, Mg and particularly Fe chemistry of the silicon based systems as well as corresponding changes in the cell chemistry. Many of these features were confirmed by atomic absorption spectroscopy.