An injectable chitosan-based hydrogel reinforced by oxidized nanocrystalline cellulose and mineral trioxide aggregate designed for tooth engineering applications

The complex anatomy of teeth limits the accessibility and efficacy of regenerative treatments. Therefore, the application of well-known inducers as injectable hydrogels for the regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex is considered a promising approach. In this regard, this study aimed to develop an injectable hydrogel containing mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). The injectable chitosan/oxidized-nanocrystalline cellulose/MTA (CS/OCNC/MTA) hydrogels were prepared, and the physicochemical properties of these hydrogels were evaluated by TGA, FTIR, Rheological analysis, and SEM. Moreover, the effect of MTA on the swelling and degradability of scaffolds was assessed. The proliferative effects of synthesized hydrogels were also determined on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) by MTT assay. For induction of differentiation and biomineralization in these cells, the alkaline phosphatase activity and Alizarin Red S staining tests were performed in the presence of fabricated scaffolds. The proliferation of hDPSCs was significantly increased in the presence of these hydrogels. Moreover, the addition of MTA to hydrogel structure dramatically improved the differentiation of hDPSCs. These results suggested that this novel injectable hydrogel provides appropriate physiochemical properties and can be considered a promising scaffold for regenerative endodontic procedures.

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Influence of perfluorinated carboxylic acids on ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of betacyanins and 17-decarboxy-betacyanins

The ability of trifluoroacetic acid, pentafluoropropionic acid and heptafluorobutyric acid to act as ion-pairing agents for betacyanins and 17-decarboxy-betacyanins during HPLC analysis on a Luna C18(2) reversed-phase column is reported. While the perfluorinated carboxylic acids affect the retention of both groups of compounds by changing the pH of the mobile phase, the possibility of ion-pair chromatography for 17-decarboxy-betacyanins was noticed. In order to explain the accessibility of the positive charge for the counter-anion in decarboxy-betacyanins, the mesomeric structures of the polymethine system at low pH (around a value of 1.5), when the carboxylic group in the 2 position is protonated, should be taken into consideration.     

Spatiotemporal model for the progression of transgressive dunes

Transgressive dune fields, which are active sand areas surrounded by vegetation, exist on many coasts. In some regions like in Fraser Island in Australia, small dunes shrink while large ones grow, although both experience the same climatic conditions. We propose a general mathematical model for the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation cover on sand dunes and focus on the dynamics of transgressive dunes. Among other possibilities, the model predicts growth parallel to the wind with shrinkage perpendicular to the wind, where, depending on geometry and size, a transgressive dune can initially grow although eventually shrink. The larger is the initial area the slower its stabilization process. The model’s predictions are supported by field observations from Fraser Island in Australia.     

Effects of composition and transparency on photo and radioluminescence of Y2O3:Eu complexes

A solid state-based method using a hot reaction chamber is applied to the synthesis of Y₂O₃:Eu particles containing Eu from 0 to 5 mol%. The produced powders are studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as photoluminescence (PL) and radioluminescence tests. TEM and XRD results revealed the powder to be mono-disperse and in the form of a solid solution. The PL of Y₂O₃:Eu powder depends on both the concentration quenching effect (due to an excess of Eu concentration) and the surface luminescence effect (depicted by a higher surface area induced by the large phosphor concentration in the solution or smaller particle sizes). A ²²Na gamma source is used to compare the recorded count rates for four Y₂O₃:Eu scintillator materials with different concentrations of Eu. Each scintillator composition is examined in four forms: solid pellets with a high volume porosity and three aqueous solutions of Y₂O₃:Eu particles of the different scintillator materials at concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 mg/mL. The radioluminescence results indicated that increasing the transparency and/or the amount of Eu mol% of the scintillators increases the net average counts.