Cell Adhesion and in Vivo Osseointegration of Sandblasted/Acid Etched/Anodized Dental Implants

The authors describe a new type of titanium (Ti) implant as a Modi-anodized (ANO) Ti implant, the surface of which was treated by sandblasting, acid etching (SLA), and anodized techniques. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the adhesion of MG-63 cells to Modi-ANO surface treated Ti in vitro and to investigate its osseointegration characteristics in vivo. Four different types of Ti implants were examined, that is, machined Ti (control), SLA, anodized, and Modi-ANO Ti. In the cell adhesion study, Modi-ANO Ti showed higher initial MG-63 cell adhesion and induced greater filopodia growth than other groups. In vivo study in a beagle model revealed the bone-to-implant contact (BIC) of Modi-ANO Ti (74.20% ± 10.89%) was much greater than those of machined (33.58% ± 8.63%), SLA (58.47% ± 12.89), or ANO Ti (59.62% ± 18.30%). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Modi-ANO Ti implants produced by sandblasting, acid etching, and anodizing improve cell adhesion and bone ongrowth as compared with machined, SLA, or ANO Ti implants. These findings suggest that the application of Modi-ANO surface treatment could improve the osseointegration of dental implant.     

Cytotoxicity mechanism of non-viral carriers polyethylenimine and poly-l-lysine using real time high-content cellular assay

Cationic polymers polyethylenimine (PEI) and poly-l-lysine (PLL) used as non-viral gene/drug delivery vehicles, showed high cytotoxicity but their molecular mechanisms of toxicity have been inadequately understood. Therefore, we tried to investigate the toxicity pathway triggered by these polymers through a high-content cellular imaging technique. The results revealed that PEI induced apoptosis via an intrinsic pathway, whereas PLL showed cytotoxicity through both intrinsic and extrinsic caspase cascade. Both PEI and PLL provide different apoptotic activities on HepG2 cells depending on their molecular weight. The degree of apoptosis of PEI also depends on its structure. The branched PEI showed higher cytotoxicity than linear PEI. This observation was verified through Annexin V-FITC/PI assay and real-time high-content monitoring of cytosolic calcium, mitochondrial membrane disruption, and caspase-3 activation methods. The study therefore provides important implications on the molecular mechanisms of PEI and PLL induced cytotoxicity.     

Characterization of the surface energies of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes and their interfacial adhesion energies with various polymers

The surface energies of pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and MWCNTs functionalized with carboxylic acid (MWCNT-COOH), acyl chloride and ethyl amine were characterized, and the effects of the changes in MWCNT surface energies on the interfacial adhesion and reinforcement of the composites were explored. When the surface energy of pristine MWCNTs was compared to that of functionalized MWCNTs, a decrease in the dispersive surface energy and an increase in the polar surface energy were observed. Interfacial adhesion energies between MWCNTs and various polymers were estimated from surface energy values of MWCNTs and various polymers. Among the MWCNTs, polyethylene, polystyrene and bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) had the highest interfacial energy with pristine MWCNTs, while nylon 6,6 and polyacrylamine exhibited the highest interfacial energy with MWCNT-COOH. When tensile properties and adhesion at the interface of PC and nylon 6,6 composites containing MWCNTs were examined, composites having high interfacial adhesion energy exhibited greater adhesion at the interface and reinforcement.     

Kinetic modeling of hydrocracking reaction in a trickle-bed reactor with Pt/Y-zeolite catalysts

A kinetic model is developed to predict the entire distribution of hydrocarbon products for the hydrocracking reaction with Pt/Y-zeolite catalysts in a trickle-bed reactor. Operating conditions, such as temperature, pressure, and wax and H2 flow rates were varied to evaluate their effects on conversion and distribution, and kinetic parameters were estimated using the experimental data that covers the window of operating conditions. The comparison between experimental data and simulated results corroborated the validity of the developed model, and the quantitative prediction of the reactor performance was clearly demonstrated. To make evident the usefulness of the model, an optimization method, genetic algorithm (GA), was applied, and the optimal condition for the maximum production of C₁₀-C₁₇ was successfully calculated.     

Adsorptive interaction of bisphenol A with mesoporous titanosilicate/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite materials: FT-IR and Raman analyses

Nanocomposite materials containing graphene oxide have attracted tremendous interest as catalysts and adsorbents for water purification. In this study, mesoporous titanosilicate/reduced graphene oxide composite materials with different Ti contents were employed as adsorbents for removing bisphenol A (BPA) from water systems. The adsorptive interaction between BPA and adsorption sites on the composite materials was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. Adsorption capacities of BPA at equilibrium, q _e (mg/g), decreased with increasing Ti contents, proportional to the surface area of the composite materials. FT-IR observations for fresh and spent adsorbents indicated that BPA adsorbed onto the composite materials by the electrostatic interaction between OH functional groups contained in BPA and on the adsorbents. The electrostatic adsorption sites on the adsorbents were categorized into three hydroxyl groups: Si-OH, Ti-OH, and graphene-OH. In Raman spectra, the intensity ratios of D to G band were decreased after the adsorption of BPA, implying adsorptive interaction of benzene rings of BPA with the sp² hybrid structure of the reduced graphene oxide.     

On the shear strength of reinforced concrete deep beam with web opening

An objective of this study is to establish the shear strength of reinforced concrete deep beam with web opening. Eighteen beams were tested with the variables of the steel ratio and strength of longitudinal bars, concrete strength, and shear span‐to‐depth ratio. It was observed that the opening is strengthened by longitudinal bars but the load‐carrying capacity of deep beams with openings can be largely improved by the increase in concrete strength. Modifying the softened truss model derived by Mau and Hsu and utilizing the results of this experiment carried out with the variables of concrete strength, cross‐section size, shear‐span‐to‐depth ratio, and the strength and steel ratio of longitudinal bars, this study proposes an improved model to predict the shear strength. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and piezoelectric properties of textured NLKNS-CZ thick films and their application in planar piezoactuator

0.97(Na_0.5-xLi_xK_0.5)(Nb_0.89Sb_0.11)O₃-0.03CaZrO₃ [(N_0.5-xL_xK)(NS)-CZ] piezoceramic (x = 0.325) has a pseudocubic-tetragonal-orthorhombic (PC-T-O) multi-structure. The PC structure formed in this piezoceramic was identified as the R3m rhombohedral structure. This piezoceramic showed the large piezoelectric charge constant (d₃₃) of 515 pC/N due to the PC-T-O multi-structure. The NaNbO₃ (NN) templates were used to texture the (N_0.5-xL_xK)(NS)-CZ thick films along the (001) direction, and the textured thick film (x = 0.0375) had a large Lotgering factor of 95.6%. The PC-T-O multi-structure was observed in this thick film (x = 0.0375), but the thick film (x = 0.0325) showed a PC-O structure owing to the diffusion of the NN templates into the thick film. The textured thick film (x = 0.0375) exhibited an increased d₃₃ of 625 pC/N because of the PC-T-O multi-structure and the lineup of grains along the [001] direction. A textured thick film (x = 0.0375) was used to fabricate a planar-type actuator to confirm its applicability to electrical devices. This actuator exhibits large acceleration (580.3 G) and displacement (150 μm) at a low electric field of 0.2 kV/mm with a short response time of 3.0 ms. Therefore, the (N_0.5-xL_xK)(NS)-CZ thick films are excellent lead-free piezoceramics.     

Morin,a Flavonoid from Moraceae,Induces Apoptosis by Induction of BAD Protein in Human Leukemic Cells

Evidence suggests that phytochemicals can safely modulate cancer cell biology and induce apoptosis. Here, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of morin, a flavone originally isolated from members of the Moraceae family in human leukemic cells, focusing on apoptosis. An anti-cancer effect of morin was screened with several human leukemic cell lines. U937 cells were most sensitive to morin, where it induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. It also induced loss of MMP (ΔΨ_m) along with cytochrome c release, down-regulated Bcl-2 protein, and up-regulated BAX proteins. The apoptotic activity of morin was significantly attenuated by Bcl-2 augmentation. In conclusion, morin induced caspase-dependent apoptosis through an intrinsic pathway by upregulating BAD proteins. In addition, Bcl-2 protein expression is also important in morin-induced apoptosis of U937 cells. This study provides evidence that morin might have anticancer properties in human leukemic cells.