Electrospun nanofibrous biodegradable polyester coatings on Bioglass-based glass-ceramics for tissue engineering

Biodegradable polymeric nanofibrous coatings were obtained by electrospinning different polymers onto sintered 45S5 Bioglass^®-based glass-ceramic pellets. The investigated polymers were poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and a composite of poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (PCL–PEO). The fibrous coatings morphology was evaluated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The electrospinning process parameters were optimised to obtain reproducible coatings formed by a thin web of polymer nanofibres. In-vitro studies in simulated body fluid (SBF) were performed to investigate the bioactivity and mineralisation of the substrates by inducing the formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) on the nanofiber-coated pellets. HA crystals were detected on all samples after 7 days of immersion in SBF, however the morphology of the HA layer depended on the characteristic fibre diameter, which in turn was a function of the specific polymer-solvent system used. The bioactive and resorbable nanofibrous coatings can be used to tailor the surface topography of bioactive glass-ceramics for applications in tissue engineering scaffolds.     

Inelastic behavior and fracture of high modulus polymeric fiber bundles at high strain-rates

The tensile behavior and fracture mechanisms of poly(phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) and high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fiber bundles were studied at high strain-rates using a tension Kolsky bar. For all fiber bundles investigated, a significant amount of strain energy was found to be dissipated by inelastic processes in addition to that due to fracture. The differences in microstructure and properties between the fibers were shown to have a noticeable influence on the inelasticity and fracture behavior in PPTA fiber bundles. No significant strain-rate effect on inelastic behavior and maximum strength was found in HMPE fiber bundles. Scanning electron micrographs of the fracture surfaces of PPTA fiber showed that the failure occurs mainly by fibrillation resulting in pointed breaks, and showed no fundamental difference in fracture mechanism at quasi-static and high strain-rates. However, the fracture mechanism in the HMPE fiber was different at quasi-static and high strain-rates, crazing was dominant at high strain-rates and plate formation under quasi-static conditions. This difference was more substantial in HMPE fibers with lower degree of crystalline order, which suggested that the inelastic behavior is governed by a precise mechanism of load transfer between the crystalline and amorphous phases present in HMPE fibers as a function of loading rate. At high strain-rates, HMPE fibers appear to be able to dissipate more strain energy than PPTA fibers due to this intrinsic change of deformation mechanism. Our results also support the idea that the mechanical behavior of a PPTA fiber bundle is inherently statistical including variations in strength distribution and alignment of the individual filaments.     

Fabrication of a novel micro-nano fibrous nonwoven scaffold with Antheraea assama silk fibroin for use in tissue engineering

The success of developing artificial organs by tissue engineering depends on scaffold properties and architecture. Here, we describe the fabrication of an Antheraea assama fibroin based novel micro-nano fibrous nonwoven scaffold. The morphological and chemical characterization was done by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) respectively, which demonstrated the formation of scaffold with micro-nano architecture. The biocompatibility was assessed in vitro by haemolysis and cytotoxicity assays, whereby the scaffold was found to be nontoxic and efficient in supporting cell adhesion and growth.     

Fabrication of a thermoresponsive cell culture dish: a key technology for cell sheet tissue engineering

This article reviews the properties and characterization of an intelligent thermoresponsive surface, which is a key technology for cell sheet-based tissue engineering. Intelligent thermoresponsive surfaces grafted with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) exhibit hydrophilic/hydrophobic alteration in response to temperature change. Cultured cells are harvested on thermoresponsive cell culture dishes by decreasing the temperature without the use of digestive enzymes or chelating agents. Our group has developed cell sheet-based tissue engineering for therapeutic uses with single layer or multilayered cell sheets, which were recovered from the thermoresponsive cell culture dish. Using surface derivation techniques, we developed a new generation of thermoresponsive cell culture dishes to improve culture conditions. We also designed a new methodology for constructing well-defined organs using microfabrication techniques.     

A novel biosorbent for dye removal: extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of Proteus mirabilis TJ-1

This paper deals with the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of Proteus mirabilis TJ-1 used as a novel biosorbent to remove dye from aqueous solution in batch systems. As a widely used and hazardous dye, basic blue 54 (BB54) was chosen as the model dye to examine the adsorption performance of the EPS. The effects of pH, initial dye concentration, contact time and temperature on the sorption of BB54 to the EPS were examined. At various initial dye concentrations (50-400 mg/L), the batch sorption equilibrium can be obtained in only 5 min. Kinetic studies suggested that the sorption followed the internal transport mechanism. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum BB54 uptake of 2.005 g/g was obtained. Chemical analysis of the EPS indicated the presence of protein (30.9%, w/w) and acid polysaccharide (63.1%, w/w). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the EPS with a crystal-linear structure was whole enwrapped by adsorbed dye molecules. FTIR spectrum result revealed the presence of adsorbing groups such as carboxyl, hydroxyl and amino groups in the EPS. High-molecular weight of the EPS with more binding-sites and stronger van der Waals forces together with its specific construct leads to the excellent performance of dye adsorption. The EPS shows potential board application as a biosorbent for both environmental protection and dye recovery.     

The photooxidative destruction of C.I. Basic Yellow 2 using UV/S2O8 process in a rectangular continuous photoreactor

The photooxidative decolorization of C.I. Basic Yellow 2 (BY2), was investigated using UV radiation in the presence of peroxydisulfate (S₂O₈²⁻) in a rectangular photoreactor at experimental condition. S₂O₈²⁻ and UV-light showed negligible effect when they were used independently. Removal efficiency of BY2 was sensitive to the operational parameters such as initial concentrations of S₂O₈²⁻, BY2, light intensity, flow rate and pH. The conversion ratios of BY2 at the volumetric flow rates of 330, 500 and 650 ml/min were 84%, 79%, 51% in 30 min, respectively. Our results showed that light intensity was a beneficial parameter for dye removal. The results showed that in the presence of S₂O₈²⁻, the photooxidation quantum yield obtained was higher than direct photolysis quantum yield, suggesting that photodecay of BY2 was dominated by photooxidation. The electrical energy per order (E_EO) values for decolorization of BY2 solution was calculated. Results show that applying a desired peroxydisulfate concentration can reduce the E_EO.     

Efficiency of free cooling using latent heat storage integrated into the ventilation system of a low energy building

This article presents the results of an investigation into the free cooling efficiency in a heavyweight and lightweight low energy building using a mechanical ventilation system with two latent heat thermal energy storages (LHTESs), one for cooling the fresh supply air and the other for cooling the re-circulated indoor air. Both LHTESs contain sphere encapsulated PCM (paraffin RT20). Using a developed and experimentally verified numerical model of the LHTES, the temperature response functions, based on the heat storage size, the air flow rates and the PCM's thermal properties, are established in the form of a Fourier series and empirical equations and used in the TRNSYS building thermal response model. Several mechanical ventilation, night cooling and free cooling operation modes were analysed and compared. It was found that the free cooling technique enables a reduction in the size of the mechanical ventilation system, provides more favourable temperatures and therefore enables better thermal comfort conditions, and in our studied case also fresh air for the occupants.