In vitro evaluation of bioactivity of CaO-SiO2-P2O5-Na2O-Fe2O3 glasses

Glasses with compositions 41CaO(52 − x)SiO₂4P₂O₅·xFe₂O₃3Na₂O (2 ≤ x ≤ 10 mol.%) were prepared by melt quenching method. Bioactivity of the different glass compositions was studied in vitro by treating them with simulated body fluid (SBF). The glasses treated for various time periods in SBF were evaluated by examining apatite formation on their surface using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques. Increase in bioactivity with increasing iron oxide content was observed. The results have been used to understand the evolution of the apatite surface layer as a function of immersion time in SBF and glass composition.     

A study on photo-generated charges property in highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays

In this study TiO₂ nanotube arrays were fabricated by potentiostatic anodization of titanium sheet. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) image indicated the TiO₂ nanotube arrays were of pure anatase form and highly ordered. The properties of the photo-generated charges in the nanotube arrays were investigated by transient photovoltage (TPV) technique and surface photovoltage (SPV) technique based on lock-in amplifier with dc bias, in comparison with the commercial powder derived film. The separation processes of the photo-induced charges in the system of TiO₂ nanotubes on Ti have been demonstrated to be correlated with the incident light intensity, surface trapping states, and the interfacial electric field between Ti and TiO₂. The results also show that the highly ordered nanotube film could generate much stronger SPV responses under external electric field than the commercial powder derived film.     

Attachment, proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs on gas-jet/electrospun nHAP/PHB fibrous scaffolds

In this study, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)-based scaffolds containing nanosized hydroxyapatite (nHAP) were manufactured by gas-jet/electrospinning. The morphologies of the scaffolds were characterized. The effect of the scaffolds on attachment, proliferation and differentiation of the bone marrow stroma cells (BMSCs) were accessed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. The results show that the gas-jet/electrospun scaffolds possess an extracellular matrix-like topography. In vitro studies describe that the scaffolds have positive effects on attachment, proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs in vitro. It can be concluded that the scaffolds combing the unique structural features generated by gas-jet/electrospinning with functional factors, have the potential to be used in bone tissue engineering.     

Induction of osteoconductivity by BMP-2 gene modification of mesenchymal stem cells combined with plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coating

Success in bone implant depends greatly on the composition and surface features of the implant. The surface-modification measures not only favor the implant's osteoconductivity, but also promote both bone anchoring and biomechanical stability. This paper reports an approach to combine a hydroxyapatite (HA) coated substrate with a cellular vehicle for the delivery of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) synergistically enhancing the osteoconductivity of implant surfaces. We examined the attachment, growth and osteoinductive activity of transfected BMP-producing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on a plasma-sprayed HA coated substrate. It was found that the HA coated substrate could allow the attachment and growth of BMP-2 gene modified BMSCs, and this combined application synergistically enhanced osteconductivity of the substrate surface. This synergistic method may be of osseointegration value in orthopedic and dental implant surgery.     

Improving the bioactivity of NiTi shape memory alloy by heat and alkali treatment

TiO₂ films were formed on an NiTi alloy surface by heat treatment in air at 600 °C. Heat treated NiTi shape memory alloys were subsequently alkali treated with 1 M, 3 M and 5 M NaOH solutions respectively, to improve their bioactivity. Then treated NiTi samples were soaked in 1.5SBF to evaluate their in vitro performance. The results showed that the 3 M NaOH treatment is the most appropriate method. A large amount of apatite formed within 1 day's soaking in 1.5SBF, after 7 day's soaking TiO₂/HA composite layer formed on the NiTi surface. SEM, XRD, FT-IR and TEM results showed that the morphology and microstructure are similar to the human bone apatite.     

Surface modification with both phosphorylcholine and stearyl groups to adjust hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity

A new monolayer film with tunable hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity was constructed on glass coverslips by stepwise grafting with both phosphorylcholine (PC) and stearyl groups. The glass coverslips were firstly hydroxylized to provide reactive sites on the surfaces. Subsequently, chlorodimethyl-n-octadecylsilane was chemically adsorbed onto the surface to impart the required hydrophobicity. The remaining hydroxyl groups were grafted with 1,6-diisocyanatohexane. Finally, 2-hydroxy-2-ethylphosphorylcholine was grafted onto the attached isocyanate groups. Dynamic contact angle (DCA) measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed that the step-by-step modification process was successful. The adsorption of bovine serum albumin and bovine plasma fibrinogen, as well as the adhesion and aggregation of platelets were suppressed with the introduction of phospholipid moieties on the surfaces. This tunable surface may have potential applications in the fields of separation science, tissue engineering, cytobiology, drug delivery and gene therapy.     

Cellular reactions of osteoblast-like cells to a novel nanocomposite membrane for guided bone regeneration

This study investigated the bioactivity and biocompatibility of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (n-HA)/Polyamide-66 (PA66) nanocomposite membrane and expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) membrane (as control) to MG63 osteoblast-like cells. The attachment and proliferation of the cells on the porous surface of nHA/PA66 membrane and the surface of e-PTFE membrane were evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation and the MTT assay. The bioactivity of the cells on the surface of the two membranes was evaluated by testing cell viability and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. The results suggested that the bioresponse of MG63 osteoblast-like cells on the porous surface of nHA/PA66 membrane was better than the bioresponse on the opposite surface of e-PTFE membrane. Because of a better cell attachment manner, there is a potential utilization of the guided bone regeneration (GBR) membrane to substitute nHA/PA66 membrane for e-PTFE membrane.     

Electronic structure of dimerized spinel ZnV2O4

Electronic structure calculations were performed for ZnV₂O₄, a material close to a metal-insulator transition. Structural optimization leads to the formation of V-V dimers along the off-plane chains. A strong spin-lattice coupling is expected close to the transition to itinerancy. No orbital ordering is observed in such a structure, and the experimentally found magnetic structure is naturally explained.     

Highly ordered anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays and their stabilities as photo(electro)catalysts

Highly ordered TiO₂ nanotube arrays with an average diameter of 230 nm, a wall thickness of 30 nm and a length of 1.8 μm were fabricated within a large domain by electrochemically anodizing of a titanium foil in a mixed solution of glycerol and NH₄F aqueous electrolyte. The TiO₂ nanotubes exhibit an anatase structure after annealing at 450 °C in air for 3 h. The direct photolysis (DP), photocatalytic (PC), electrocatalytic (EC) and photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) activities of the TiO₂ nanotube arrays were investigated using methyl orange (MO) as the model pollutant. The degradation of MO in PC process is faster than that in DP process, which confirms the photocatalysis of TiO₂ nanotube arrays. The degradation rate in PEC process is much higher than those in EC and PC processes, which demonstrates the synergetic effect between PC and EC processes. The synergetic factor is 4.1, which suggests that the synergetic effect is strong. Moreover, the stabilities of morphology, structure and photo(electro)catalytic degradation performance of the TiO₂ nanotube arrays were studied in order to evaluate their applicability as photo(electro)catalysts. The photo(electro)catalytic experiments bring neither morphological nor structural modifications to the nanotube arrays. The photo(electro)catalytic degradation rates of the TiO₂ nanotube arrays maintain stable in 10 cycles, which indicates that the TiO₂ nanotube arrays are appropriate to be applied as photo(electro)catalysts.     

Ni-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays on shape memory alloy

Self-organized Ni-Ti-O nanotube arrays were fabricated through a direct anodization of NiTi shape memory alloy in glycerol-based electrolyte. The growth of Ni-doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays was mainly affected by anodization voltage and temperature. Higher anodization voltage facilitated the growth of uniform nanotube arrays. Large-area open-ended Ni-Ti-O nanotube arrays could form on the surface of the shape memory alloy under a higher anodization temperature. The oxide nanotubes had a gradually changed composition along the growth direction of the nanotube and presented a thermal stability up to 400 °C. The nanotubular oxide demonstrated a much better hydrophilic behavior than that of the traditional oxide layer grown on NiTi substrate through air oxidization. The successful fabrication of Ni-doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays here makes it feasible to further explore excellent physical and chemical as well as biomedical properties of the nanotube-modified surfaces of the NiTi shape memory alloy.     

High Curie temperature in B-site ordered Sr2CrWO6 epitaxial thin films

Epitaxial and c-axis oriented double perovskite Sr₂CrWO₆ thin films were prepared on SrTiO₃ (100) and LaAlO₃ (100) substrates by pulsed-laser deposition. Structural, magnetic and transport properties were found to be sensitive to the gas conditions employed during the deposition. A small amount of oxygen along with Ar during the deposition was found to be essential for B-site ordering; such films displayed lattice parameters close to the bulk value and display ferromagnetic metallic behavior. The Curie temperature observed above 500 K in these films is higher than bulk Sr₂CrWO₆ samples. Films grown without oxygen were observed to have long c-parameter and no B-site ordering; they were non-magnetic and semiconducting.     

Magnetic and transport properties of double distorted perovskites CaCuMn6O12 and CaCu2Mn5O12

Magnetic and transport properties of double distorted perovskites CaCuMn₆O₁₂ and CaCu₂Mn₅O₁₂ are studied in a range 2–300 K. The leading role in magnetism of these compounds belongs to antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of Cu²⁺ in square coordination with Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ in octahedral coordination. The values of saturation magnetization indicate that Mn³⁺ ions in square coordination are coupled ferromagnetically with Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ in octahedral coordination. The colossal magnetoresistance in the pellet samples is due assumingly to intergranular spin-polarized tunneling of current carriers.     

Synthesis and field emission of diamond-like carbon nanorods on TiO2/Ti nanotube arrays

Highly ordered TiO₂/Ti nanotube arrays were fabricated by anodic oxidation method in 0.5 wt% HF. Using prepared TiO₂/Ti nanotube arrays deposited Ni nanoparticles as substrate, high quality diamond-like carbon nanorods (DLCNRs) were synthesized by a conventional method of chemical vapor deposition at 750 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. DLCNRs were analyzed by filed emission scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectrometer. It is very interesting that DLCNRs possess pagoda shape with the length of 3–10 μm. Raman spectra show two strong peaks about 1332 cm⁻¹ and 1598 cm⁻¹, indicating the formation of diamond-like carbon. The field emission measurements suggest that DLCNRs/TiO₂/Ti has excellent field emission properties, a low turn-on field about 3.0 V/μm, no evident decay at 3.4 mA/cm² in 480 min.     

Photoelectrochemical property and photocatalytic activity of N-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays

N-doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays (NTN) were prepared by anodization and dip-calcination method. Hydrazine hydrate was used as nitrogen source. The surface morphology of samples was characterized by SEM. It showed that the mean size of inner diameter was 65 nm and wall thickness was 15 nm for NTN. The ordered TiO₂ nanotube arrays on Ti substrate can sustain the impact of doping process and post-heat treatment. The atomic ratio of N/Ti was 8/25, which was calculated by EDX. Photoelectrochemical property of NTN was examined by anodic photocurrent response. Results indicated the photocurrent of NTN was nearly twice as that of non-doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TN). Photocatalytic activity of NTN was investigated by degrading dye X-3B under visible light. As a result, 99% of X-3B was decomposed by NTN in 105 min, while that of TN was 59%.     

Characterization and human gingival fibroblasts biocompatibility of hydroxyapatite/PMMA nanocomposites for provisional dental implant restoration

The aim of this study was to determine nHA/PMMA composites (H/P) in an optimal ratio with improved cytocompatibility as well as valid physical properties for provisional dental implant restoration. 20 wt.%, 30 wt.%, 40 wt.% and 50 wt.% H/P were developed and characterized using XPS, bending strength test and SEM. Human gingival fibroblasts cultured in extracts or directly on sample discs were investigated by fluorescent staining and MTT assay. Chemical integration in nHA/PMMA interface was indicated by XPS. Typical fusiform cells with adhesion spots were detected on H/P discs. MTT results also indicated higher cell viability in 30 wt.% and 40 wt.% H/P discs (P < 0.05). We conclude that nHA addition to PMMA enhances cytocompatibility and the optimal nHA/PMMA ratio for provisional fixed crowns (PFC) is 0.4:1.     

Optical and electrical characterization of TiO2 nanotube arrays on titanium substrate

Novel oriented aligned TiO₂ nanotube (TN) arrays were fabricated by anodizing titanium foil in 0.5% HF electrolyte solution. It is indicated that the sizes of the TNs greatly depended on the applied voltages to some extent. The electrical properties of the TN arrays were characterized by current-voltage (I-V) measurements. It exhibits a nonlinear, asymmetric I-V characterization, which can be explained that there exists an n-type semiconductor/metal Schottky barrier diode between TN arrays and titanium substrate interface. The absorption edges shift towards shorter wavelengths with the decrease of the anodizing voltages, which is attributed to the quantum size effects. At room temperature, a novel wide PL band consisting of four overlapped peaks was observed in the photoluminescence (PL) measurements of the TN arrays. Such peaks were proposed to be resulted from the direct transition X₁ → X₂/X₁, indirect transition Γ₁ → X₂/X₁, self-trapped excitons and oxygen vacancies, respectively.     

Fabrication, characterization and photoelectrochemical properties of Fe2O3 modified TiO2 nanotube arrays

TiO₂ nanotube (NT) arrays modified by Fe₂O₃ with high sensibility in the visible spectrum were first prepared by annealing anodic titania NTs pre-loaded with Fe(OH)₃ which was uniformly clung to the titania NTs using sequential chemical bath deposition (S-CBD). The photoelectrochemical performances of the as-prepared composite nanotubes were determined by measuring the photo-generated currents and voltages under illumination of UV-vis light. The titania NTs modified by Fe₂O₃ showed higher photopotential and photocurrent values than those of unmodified titania NTs. The enhanced photoelectrochemical behaviors can be attributed to the modified Fe₂O₃ which increases the probability of charge-carrier separation and extends the range of the TiO₂ photoresponse from ultraviolet (UV) to visible region due to the low band gap of 2.2 eV of Fe₂O₃.     

From anodic TiO2 nanotubes to hexagonally ordered TiO2 nanocolumns

We report on the formation of hexagonally ordered TiO₂ nanocolumnar layers by electrochemical oxidation in a fluoride containing electrolyte, using self-organizing nanotube formation conditions at elevated potentials and low temperatures. The influence of the substrate temperature on the nanocolumn morphology and composition is investigated and characterized by FE-SEM and EDX. The origin of these nanocolumns can be attributed to a thickening of the inner tube wall of the double wall structure of self-organized TiO₂ nanotubes. Furthermore, a transition from nanocolumnar to nanotubular structure can be established by changing the applied voltage or applying a post-immersion treatment.     

Crystal and magnetic structure of Ho2NiGe6

The crystal and magnetic structure of Ho₂NiGe₆ was studied by powder neutron diffraction. The paramagnetic neutron diffraction data confirmed the Ce₂CuGe₆-type crystal structure reported earlier for this compound. Below the Néel temperature equal to 11 K the Ho magnetic moments form a uniaxial antiferromagnetic ordering. The Ho magnetic moments equal to 8.16(7)μ_B at 1.5 K are parallel to the b-axis. The data are compared with those published for HoNi_0.46(6)Ge₂.     

Influence of anodization parameters on the morphology of TiO2 nanotube arrays

TiO₂ nanotube arrays can be fabricated by electrochemical anodization in organic and inorganic electrolytes. Morphology of these nanotube arrays changes when anodization parameters such as applied voltage, type of electrolyte, time and temperature are varied. Nanotube arrays fabricated by anodization of commercial titanium in electrolytes containing NH₄F solution and either sulfuric or phosphoric acid were studied at room temperature; time of anodization was kept constant. Applied voltage, fluoride ion concentration, and acid concentrations were varied and their influences on TiO₂ nanotubes were investigated. The current density of anodizing was recorded by computer controlled digital multimeter. The surface morphology (top-view) of nanotube arrays were observed by SEM. The nanotube arrays in this study have inner diameters in range of 40-80 nm.