Biomineralizing organisms use organic molecules to generate species- specific mineral patterns. The formation fo solid silica structures with precisely controlled morphologies is directed by proteins and polysaccharides and occurs in water at neutral pH and mbient temperature. Laboratory chemical method, in contrast, have to reply on extreme pH conditions and/or surfactnats to induce the condensation of silica precursors into specific morphologies or patterned structures. Cell wall template-mediated micrometer organized silica structures in leaf spicules of Aloe plant were systhesized when Na2SiO3 was supplied. The composition was estimated by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra on a scanning electron microscope. All organized structures showe dsilicon, oxygen and carbon peaks, indicating that well defined needles of amorphous silica have been synthesized through molecular recognitions between Si-OH and polysaccharide-OH or glycoprotein-OH of main components of plant cell walls and cellular processing as well.

Key words: SILICON DIOXIDE, BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS, MINERALIZATION, ALOE