Physicochemical Properties of PEG-Based Inorganic Hybrids Obtained via Sol-Gel

Organic-inorganic composites can be conveniently obtained by sol-gel recipes. They can find interesting applications in several fields, including drug delivery, scaffolding, bio-sensing, energetics, etc. Herein, we reconsider and reinvestigate our previous work in the field, by considering the sol-gel synthesis and physicochemical characterization of class-I organic-inorganic hybrids, and by trying to highlight some unifying elements that can be of help for the development of more efficient and precise synthesis methods. Systems based on poly(ethylene glycol) with SiO2 and ZrO2 as the ceramic phase will be discussed. Emphasis will be put on the role played by solid-state NMR spectroscopy in unveiling the interactions at the base of hybrid formation.