Nearly free surface silanols are the critical molecular moieties that initiate the toxicity of silica particles
C. Pavan, Rosangela Santalucia, R. Leinardi, M. Fabbiani, Yousof Yakoub, Francine Uwambayinema, P. Ugliengo, M. Tomatis, G. Martra, F. Turci, D. Lison, B. Fubini
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America