Naturally derived and synthetic polymers as biomimetic enhancers of silicic acid solubility in (bio)silicification processes

Numerous publications report the existence of intracellular “Si” storage pools in diatoms representing intracellular concentrations of ca. 19–340 mM depending on the species. “Si” storage pools in diatom cells, if present, are supposed to accumulate “Si” for the production of new valves. The accumulated “Si” is then transported into the silicon deposition vesicle (SDV) where the new cell wall is synthesized. Interestingly, the reported concentrations of intracellular “Si” within the storage pool sometimes strongly exceed the solubility of monosilicic acid (ca. 2 mM pH in situ supramolecular assemblies that can also affect the condensation of silicic acid. Possible mechanisms for their effect on the condensation reaction are presented, with an eye towards their relevance to the “Si pools,” from a bioinspired/biomimetic point of view.