Silica-matrix forming compositions, materials formed therefrom, and methods of using the same

A method of selectively purifying cancerous cells, comprising:

• obtaining or providing a mixture comprising:
• a reactive silicon compound;
• and,
• a biomaterial comprising at least one first living cancerous mammalian cell and at least one second living cancerous mammalian cell, the second living cancerous mammalian cell having a metabolic activity, the first living cancerous mammalian cell and the second living cancerous mammalian cell having different phenotypes;
• forming a reaction product of the mixture comprising a silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterial, wherein the second cancerous mammalian cell at least partially retains metabolic activity within the silica-matrix such that the first living cancerous mammalian cell dies at a faster rate than the second living cancerous mammalian cell;
• and
• removing the second cancerous mammalian cell from the silica-matrix after a period of time in which the second cancerous mammalian cell remains living after the first cancerous cell dies.