Electrospun poly(l‐lactide) nanofibers coated with mineral trioxide aggregate enhance odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells

A combination of bioceramics and nanofibrous scaffolds holds promising potential for inducing of mineralization in connective tissues. The aim of the present study was to investigate the attachment, proliferation and odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) on poly(l ‐lactide) (PLLA) nanofibers coated with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Polymeric scaffolds were fabricated via the electrospinning method and their surface was coated with MTA. DPSC were isolated from dental pulp and their biological behavior was evaluated on scaffolds and the control group using MTT assay. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, biomineralization and the expression of odontogenic genes were analyzed during odontogenic differentiation. Isolated DPSC showed spindle‐shaped morphology with multi‐lineage differentiation potential and were positive for CD73, CD90 and CD105. MTA‐coated PLLA (PLLA/MTA) exhibited nanofibrous structure with average fiber diameter of 756 ± 157 nm and interconnected pores and also suitable mechanical properties. Similar to MTA, these scaffolds were shown to be biocompatible and to support the attachment and proliferation of DPSC. ALP activity transiently peaked on day 14 and was significantly higher in PLLA/MTA scaffolds than in the control groups. In addition, increasing biomineralization was observed in all groups with a higher amount in PLLA/MTA. Odontogenic‐related genes, DSPP and collagen type I showed a higher expression in PLLA/MTA on days 21 and 14, respectively. Taken together, MTA/PLLA electrospun nanofibers enhanced the odontogenic differentiation of DPSC and showed the desired characteristics of a pulp capping material.     

Biological synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles using Verbascum speciosum Schrad. and cytotoxicity properties toward HepG2 cancer cell line

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are considered as one of the best modes of drug releasing plans for the treatment of various diseases. AuNPs have different...     

Preparation of polyphenylsulfone/graphene nanocomposite membrane for the pervaporation separation of cumene from water

Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) was applied for the first time in the hydrophobic PV process. Nanocomposite membranes of PPSU/graphene (Gr) nanosheets were prepared and used to separate isopropyl benzene (cumene) from water via pervaporation (PV). Analysis of the mechanical properties of the membranes showed that the tensile strength and Young's modulus had an increasing trend with the incorporation of Gr into PPSU. The water contact angle of the membranes had a rising trend with the addition of Gr, confirming the improved hydrophobicity of membranes. In the PV experiments, the membrane containing 3.5 wt% Gr provided the highest separation factor, which was 4.5-fold as much as that of the neat PPSU membrane. Cumene separation from water by the PPSU/3.5 wt% Gr membrane was associated with the total flux of 132.73 gMH, the separation factor of 1566.36, and the PSI of 208,124.8 gMH.     

Synthesis of some novel fused oxo‐ and thiopyrimidines via an intramolecular friedel‐crafts reaction

1H‐Indeno[1,2‐d]pyrimidine‐2,5(3H,9bH)‐dione derivatives 2(a‐i) and 2,3‐dihydro‐2‐thioxo‐1H‐indeno[1,2‐d]pyrimidine‐5(9bH)‐ones 2(j‐q) were synthesized via an intramolecular Friedel‐Crafts reaction between the aryl and ester group of ethyl 6‐methyl‐4‐aryl‐2‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylates 1a‐i , and their thioxo analogs using AlCl₃ and acetyl chloride in nitrobenzene. Yields of the products, after washing with THF, were of the order of 45‐69%. IR and NMR spectroscopy together with elemental analysis were used for identification of these compounds.     

Discrimination of prostate cancer cells by reflection mode FTIR photoacoustic spectroscopy

In this communication reflection mode Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) is used to obtain IR spectra of four prostate and prostate cancer cell line types (CaP) allowing their differentiation by principal components analysis.     

A Robust Electrochemical Sensor Based on Butterfly-shaped Silver Nanostructure for Concurrent Quantification of Heavy Metals in Water Samples

Heavy metals in drinking water have become a severe threat to human health. Detection of heavy metals has been achieved by electrochemical sensors that are modified with complex nanocomposites; however, reproducibility of these sensors is still a big challenge when applied in commercial settings. Here, a simple, very robust, and sensitive electrochemical sensor based on a screen-printed carbon electrode modified with butterfly-shaped silver nanostructure (AgNS/SPCE) has been developed for the concurrent determination of cadmium (II), lead (II), copper (II), and mercury (II) in water samples. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrodes was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The AgNS/SPCE showed distinct peak potentials and a significant increase in the peak currents for all heavy metals, attributed to the high electrical conductivity and electrocatalytic activity of the synthesized butterfly-shaped AgNS. Moreover, the excellent stability and sensitivity towards simultaneous quantification of heavy metals have been obtained with detection limits of 0.4 ppb, 2.5 ppb, 7.3 ppb, and 0.7 ppb for Cd (II), Pb (II), Cu (II), and Hg (II), respectively. Besides, the constructed sensor was successfully applied to simultaneously quantify target heavy metals in spiked water samples. Owing to excellent sensitivity, high robustness, affordability, and fast response, the presented electrochemical sensor could be incorporated into a portable and miniaturized potentiostat device, making it a promising method for on-site water analysis.     

Numerical simulation of the hydrodynamics of an inverse liquid–solid fluidized bed using combined Lattice Boltzmann and smoothed profile methods

Knowledge of an inverse fluidized-bed fluid hydrodynamics is advantageous in optimal adjustment and designing high-efficiency beds. In the present study, a combination of a single relaxation time collision operator lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and the smoothed profile method (SPM) is employed to simulate the hydrodynamics of an inverse liquid–solid fluidized bed comprising circular monodisperse and polydisperse particles in a rectangular channel. A numerical instance of inverse fluidization involving 231 particles is illustrated to show the capability of the combined methods. Moreover, comparison of the numerical results is performed with the Ergun equation and the Richardson–Zaki correlation. The comparison demonstrates that the present model can simulate the fluid flow behavior in an inverse fluidized bed. Several different models were also presented to investigate the effect of different fluid properties and size of particles in the bed. Simulations indicate that the more the superficial liquid velocity, the higher the porosity of the bed. The present simulations show that porosity of the bed increases by increasing the particles size, and also the vertical velocity of the bed decreases with an increase in liquid viscosity. Finally, polydisperse particle systems are also simulated. The results show that porosity in an inverse fluidized bed comprising polydisperse particles is more than that of a monodisperse particle bed.     

Discrete element modeling of inherently anisotropic granular assemblies with polygonal particles

In the present article, we study the effect of inherent anisotropy, i.e., initial bedding angle of particles and associated voids on macroscopic mechanical behavior of granular materials, by numerical simulation of several biaxial compression tests using the discrete element method (DEM). Particle shape is considered to be irregular convex-polygonal. The effect of inherent anisotropy is investigated by following the evolution of mobilized shear strength and volume change during loading. As experimental tests have already shown, numerical simulations also indicate that initial anisotropic condition has a great influence on the strength and deformational behavior of granular assemblies. Comparison of simulations with tests using oval particles, shows that angularity influences both the mobilized shear strength and the volume change regime, which originates from the interlocking resistance between particles.     

Immiscible Displacement of a Wetting Fluid by a Non-wetting One at High Capillary Number in a Micro-model Containing a Single Fracture

Most reservoirs in Iran are heterogeneous fractured carbonate reservoirs. Heterogeneity causes an earlier breakthrough and an unstable front which leads to a lower recovery. A series of experiments were conducted whereby the distilled water displaced n-Decane in strongly oil-wet glass micro-models containing a single fracture. Experimental data from image analysis of immiscible displacement processes are used to modify the Buckley?CLeverett and fractional flow equations by a heterogeneity factor. It is shown that the heterogeneity factor in the modified equations can be expressed as a function of fracture length and orientation.