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new class of “bioactive” glass can act like an intelligent
system-it not only senses its environment but reacts chemically
and physically to it.  At Southern Illinois University, Bakul C.
Dave (pronounced Da-vey) has formed a transparent glassy
material from an organically modified silica gel solution. Mixed
with water at room temperature, the sol-gel solution hardens in
about five minutes into a solid yet elastic transparent gel.
The sol-gel glass is honeycombed with microscopic pores that can
absorb biomolecules such as proteins or enzymes and release them
in response to environmental stimuli. This property could bring
closer a smart drug-delivery vehicle able to regulate dosages to
maintain proper therapeutic levels.  Swell Glass  Conventional
glass, created by m