Mineralization of oriented nano hydroxyapatite in photopolymerized polyacrylamide gel matrix

Polyacrylamide hydrogel is a biomaterial and nondegradable water based polymer which is used as tissue filler. Mineralization of hydroxyapatite (HAp) in a UV polymerized acrylamide gel matrix was investigated by varying the concentration of precursors and pH in the range 8, 9 and 10. During polymerization, diammonium hydrogen phosphate ions were impregnated in the gel matrix and subsequently, immersed in the calcium nitrate solution. Thin laminated macroporous structures, embedded with nanospheres and ribbons of HAp were mineralized. The HAp was found to be oriented along c‐axis, which could lead to the preferential binding of the acidic proteins on it's surface. In addition, there was an enlargement of pore sizes with an increase in pH. The laminated structures showed resorbable nature whereas, flake like structures obtained at higher concentrations were found to be bioactive. This composite could be an alternative to the use of silicone gel, to avoid long term risk of fibrosis and migration when implanted. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Microstructural characterization of CPPD and hydroxyapatite crystal depositions on human menisci

Meniscus is a fibrocartilaginous tissue composed mainly of water and a dense elaborate collagen network with a predominantly circumferential alignment. Crystal formation and accumulation on meniscal tissue is frequently observed especially in elderly. In this study, we used X‐ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR and FT‐Raman for the structural identification of the depositions and Optical microscopy, Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM/EDX) and Atomic Force microscopy (AFM), in order to investigate the structural relationship between the crystal deposits and the collagen fibers of human meniscal tissues. We are reporting on the formation of intercalary “colonies” of Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate (CPPD) crystals with two distinct morphologies corresponding to the monoclinic and the triclinic phase, as well as the formation of micro‐aggregations composed of nano‐crystalline HAP aggregations which are developed along the longitudinal axis of collagen fibers without extensively disturbing the collagens arrangement.     

Preparation of nano-hydroxyapatite/poly(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lactide) biocomposite microspheres

Nano-hydroxyapatite (HA)/poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) composite microspheres with relatively uniform size distribution were prepared by a solid-in-oil-in-water (s/o/w) emusion solvent evaporation method. The encapsulation of the HA nanopaticles in microshperes was significantly improved by grafting PLLA on the surface of the HA nanoparticles (p-HA) during emulsion process. This procedure gave a possibility to obtain p-HA/PLLA composite microspheres with uniform morphology and the encapsulated p-HA nanoparticle loading reached up to 40 wt% (33 wt% of pure HA) in the p-HA/PLLA composite microspheres. The microstructure of composite microspheres from core-shell to single phase changed with the variation of p-HA to PLLA ratios. p-HA/PLLA composite microspheres with the diameter range of 2–3 μm were obtained. The entrapment efficiency of p-HA in microspheres could high up to 90 wt% and that of HA was only 13 wt%. Surface and bulk characterizations of the composite microspheres were performed by measurements such as wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).     

Hydrostatic extrusion of polyethylene filled with hydroxyapatite

The hydrostatic extrusion of polyethylene filled with hydroxyapatite has been studied. It is shown that the extrusion behavior is qualitatively similar to that of unfilled polymer. Extruded products with flexural moduli of at least 10 GPa and flexural strengths of 90 MPa have been produced, which can be considered as candidates for load-bearing bone substitute materials. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Graded regulation technology for enhanced oil recovery and water shutoff in pore-cavity-fracture carbonate reservoirs

Although a single type of chemical agent (eg, gels, microspheres, surfactants, etc.) has achieved some effects in enhanced oil recovery of carbonate reservoirs, for pore-cavity-fracture carbonate reservoirs, the use of a single type of chemical agent does not perform well. The main objective of this study is to study the effect of different types of chemical agents in enhanced oil recovery of complex carbonate reservoirs. In order to determine the screening principle of chemical agents, the types of water channeling in the North Troyes reservoir were analyzed. For complex fractures, step by step plugging, multi-agent and multi-slug comprehensive intervention is carried out to ensure the plugging of high-permeability channels and inhibit the seepage of large channels. It can plug channeling fracture channel, adjust secondary dominant channel and reduce matrix flow resistance, so as to expand macroscopic swept volume and improve microscopic water flooding efficiency. The results show that it is difficult to comprehensively control water channeling in pore-cave-fracture carbonate reservoir, and the reservoir heterogeneity in the test area can be improved by mixing different types of control and flooding agents and carrying out deep profile control. The plugging rate of gel is 97.18 %, and the oil–water selection ratio is 0.45 in fractured core; the expansion rate of nano - microspheres is more than 3 times; the wetting modifier can improve the imbibition oil displacement efficiency by 14.76%, and the test result shown that nano - microspheres and wetting modifier have good synergistic oil displacement effect. The field application result shown that daily oil production of oil well in the test area increased by 5.0 m³/d and the daily water rate decreased by 19.0% compared with that before the control flooding. The findings of this study can help for better understanding of enhanced oil recovery in pore-cave-fracture carbonate reservoir.     

聚醚醚酮复合材料表面生物活性涂层的制备与性能

以聚醚醚酮/钡玻璃粉(PEEK-BGF)复合材料为基体, 通过硅烷偶联剂, 在复合材料表面构建具有生物活性的纳米羟基磷灰石(nHA)和甲基丙烯酸酯基的光固化树脂复合涂层. 采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)分析了材料表面形貌和元素分布, 测试了涂层与复合材料之间的粘接强度. 通过检测大鼠成骨细胞总蛋白含量和碱性磷酸酶表达水平, 评价新型光固化纳米羟基磷灰石/聚甲基丙烯酸酯(nHA/PMMA)复合涂层的生物活性. 研究结果表明, nHA填充的光固化复合材料形成粗糙的表面, 随着nHA的填充量提高, 涂层表面生物学活性得到提高.     

Facile Fabrication of Nanorod‐Assembled Fluorine‐Substituted Hydroxyapatite (FHA) Microspheres

Nanorod‐assembled FHA microspheres with different F contents were for the first time prepared through a facile one‐step hydrothermal method. The effect of the reaction time and pH value of reaction solutions on the FHA morphology was investigated to elucidate the self‐assembly process of FHA microspheres. The results showed pH values had significant effect on the morphology of the formed FHA crystals, which were self‐assembled into sphere‐like sturctures at high pH conditions and rod‐like structures at low pH values. The results suggested that formation of FHA crystals with varied morphology may be directly related to Ca²⁺ release kinetics from EDTA‐Ca‐Na₂ at different pH conditions. Furthermore, it was found that the chemical stability of FHA microspheres was dependent on the F content in the materials, and high F contents in FHA microspheres lead to improved chemical stability. These results suggest that the prepared self‐assembled FHA microspheres may be used for teeth substitution materials due to their unique hierarchical structures and controllable chemical stability.     

Conversion of Thioamides into Their Corresponding Oxygen Analogues Using Silver Carbonate Supported on Celite

Silver carbonate supported on celite (Ag 2 CO 3 /Celite) is used as a mild heterogeneous reagent for conversion of a variety of thioamides into their corresponding amides in acetonitrile at room temperature.