3D CaP porous scaffolds with grooved surface topography obtained by the sol-gel method

The influence of surface topography on cellular behaviour and its importance for the development of three-dimensional scaffolds for bone tissue engineering are a topic of growing interest. To date, the introduction of topographical patterns into the surface of 3D porous ceramic scaffolds has proven difficult, due partly to the brittle nature of ceramic materials as well as the currently available fabrication technologies. In this study, a grooved pattern was introduced into the surface of 3D multilayer porous ceramic scaffolds by the chemical etching technique. The patterned scaffolds were characterised by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM). Their bioactivity was also evaluated in vitro by immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 12 h, 1, 7, 14 and 21 days. Scaffolds were constituted mainly with a mixture of the calcium pyrophosphate (Ca₂O₇P₂) and β-tricalcium phosphate (Ca?(PO?)?) phases. The pyrophosphate on the external layer was dissolved as a result of the etching process, leaving grooves on the surface. Ridges and grooves were nano-/micrometric, with dimensions of around 900 nm–1.5 μm in width and 200 nm–300 nm in depth. Moreover, the mechanical properties and bioactive capacity of the patterned scaffolds were not affected by chemical etching, making them suitable to be used in bone tissue engineering.     

Structural,optical, cytotoxicity,and antimicrobial properties of MgO,ZnO and MgO/ZnO nanocomposite for biomedical applications

In this study, MgO nanoparticles were successfully fabricated and incubated inside ZnO NPs to form MgO/ZnO nanocomposite for biomedical applications. The x-ray diffraction analysis of MgO, ZnO, and MgO/ZnO has shown the single-phase x-ray diffraction patterns through X'pert High score. The crystallite sizes were calculated as 18 nm, 42 nm, and 53 nm, respectively. The average particle size of MgO, ZnO, and MgO/ZnO nanopowders depicted from secondary electron images of field emission electron microscopy were 56 nm, 400 nm, and 450 nm, respectively. The presence of MgO NPs inside ZnO NPs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The elemental dispersive spectroscopy of MgO, given the peaks of oxygen and magnesium, also showed only zinc and oxygen peaks in ZnO, which confirms no other impurities in MgO and ZnO powders. The elemental analysis of MgO/ZnO nanocomposite showed the peaks of Zinc and Oxygen, along with a tiny peak of Mg. The photoluminescence and UV–vis spectroscopy revealed the absorbance fluorescence limit of the nanomaterials. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the several groups present in the nanocomposite. The biocompatibility of MgO, ZnO, and MgO/ZnO was observed with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The cytotoxicity studies were also performed against human cancer (liver and breast) cell lines. The MgO, ZnO, and MgO/ZnO exhibited the antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.     

Laser surface texturing of ceramics and ceramic composite materials – A review

The surface texturing of ceramics is generally performed through acid-based etching and machining; however, laser texturing may be considered as a more precise, reproducible and eco-friendly process. Furthermore, laser ablation may be used to produce complex patterns on ceramic surfaces, thus offering new surface engineering opportunities. The studies so far conducted on this topic have mainly been application-driven, and since a wide variety of lasers have been used for surface texturing, it is difficult to have a comprehensive understanding of this technique applied to ceramics and ceramic composite materials. Laser texturing requires a great deal of knowledge of the material and the laser source parameters to optimise the process in order to obtain the expected results. It is therefore important to expand the research on the laser texturing of ceramics and CMCs in order to build a relevant amount of literature that can be used to identify the most appropriate parameters for each application. This review provides an overview of most of the technological aspects considered relevant for the laser surface texturing of ceramics and CMCs, and includes the fundamentals of laser-material interactions and a summary of the used equipment and parameters. Furthermore, most of the techniques related to the modifications of surface material induced by a laser are critically reviewed, and the new horizons that are opening up, in the context of the modification of surfaces to improve the performances of materials for several applications, are discussed.     

Bioceramic coatings on metallic implants: An overview

Metallic implants sometimes fail in orthopedic surgeries due to insufficient bio-functionality, implant-associated infections, poor osteointegration due to high inertness (Ti, Co–Cr, stainless steel alloys), and a too fast degradation rate (Mg-based alloys). Bioceramic coatings are among the most appropriate solutions for overcoming these drawbacks. After providing a picture of the history as well as the pros and cons of the different types of metallic implants, this review focuses on bioceramic coatings that can be applied on them, including metal oxides, calcium phosphates, silicates, glasses, glass-ceramics, carbon, etc. Various coating strategies and applications are described and discussed, with emphasis on a selected number of highly promising researches. The major trends and future directions in the development of bioceramic coatings are finally suggested.     

核磁共振磷谱法测定乳制品中的酪蛋白含量

基于插值法建立乳制品中酪蛋白的核磁共振磷谱定量检测方法。结果表明，该方法的检出限为0.38 g/L（信噪比（RSN）=3），定量限为1.25 g/L（RSN=10）；在5.00～35.00 g/L质量浓度范围内线性良好，相关系数R2大于0.999；加标回收率在91.94%～105.10%范围区间；日内精密度在0.65%～1.40%范围区间；日间精密度在1.40%～1.80%范围区间。对市售不同乳制品中酪蛋白含量进行检测，该方法与GB 31638—2016《酪蛋白》测定结果误差在±5%以内，满足方法可行性对比分析验证要求。该方法相比常规方法样品前处理简单、定量准确性高，大大缩短了检测时间，且有更广泛的适用性，满足乳制品中酪蛋白快速定量检测的要求。     

镁合金网格壁板压弯成形数值模拟及实验研究

为探索镁合金整体壁板压弯成形的可行性,以及镁合金壁板压弯成形过程中金属的流动规律,对AZ31镁合金网格壁板压弯成形进行了数值模拟和实验研究。建立了有限元数值模拟的几何模型,采用有限元计算软件对AZ31镁合金网格壁板压弯成形过程进行了数值模拟研究,分析了镁合金网格壁板压弯成形中的温度场、应变场、应力场、破坏系数等的分布规律。确定了合适的AZ31镁合金壁板压弯成形工艺参数,并对镁合金网格壁板压弯成形进行了实验研究,获得了合格的镁合金网格壁板弯曲件,并分析了镁合金网格壁板成形件尺寸精度,模拟结果与实验结果相吻合,最大相对误差为16.7%。     

汽车发动机用AZ91D合金的表面喷涂与性能

采用热喷涂工艺在压铸态AZ91D合金表面制备了Al涂层,研究了热处理温度和保温时间对AZ91/Al涂层界面组织形貌的影响,并对比分析了扩散层的耐腐蚀性能和耐磨性能。结果表明,热处理前Al涂层与基材为机械结合,热处理后Al涂层与AZ91合金基材的界面处可形成冶金结合扩散层,且随着保温时间延长,扩散层厚度不断增加;热处理温度在375 ℃以下时扩散层主要由β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂相构成,375 ℃×8 h热处理后为α-Mg+β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂相,425 ℃×1 h热处理后为γ-Mg₂Al₃和β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂相。AZ91合金基材和扩散层腐蚀电位从高至低顺序为γ>β>α+β>AZ91合金基材,扩散层的腐蚀电流密度均低于AZ91合金基材,阻抗谱图中容抗弧半径从大至小顺序为γ>β>α+β>AZ91合金基材,扩散层的耐腐蚀性能均优于AZ91合金基材;γ、β和α+β扩散层的摩擦稳定性系数都高于AZ91合金基材,而磨损速率和磨痕宽度都要小于AZ91合金基材,其中β扩散层的磨损速率和磨痕宽度最小,具有最佳的抵抗磨损的能力。     

New iron-doped multilayer ceramic scaffold with noncontinuous bioactive behavior

New multilayer porous ceramic scaffolds, constituted by a core covered with external layers, are proposed as future bone tissue implants. The core with composition SiO₂ - 25P₂O₅ – 68CaO–6Li₂O (mol%) provided suitable compressive strength (0.9–1.6 MPa) to act as an initial support during bone tissue regeneration. The external layers with composition 29SiO₂ - 3P₂O₅ - (68-x) CaO - xFe₂O₃ (mol%) (x = 0.3 and 1) (samples C/EL-1Fe and C/EL-3Fe, respectively) conferred a bioactive character to scaffolds. The surfaces of both samples showed apatite precipitates after coming into contact with simulated body fluid (SBF). Sample C/EL-1Fe exhibited noncontinuous bioactive behavior, with precipitates of apatite that precipitated and dissolved between days 1 and 28. Sample C/EL-3Fe showed precipitates after 8 days that remained until the end of the study time. This variation in material, achieved by modifying the amounts of iron in external layers, represents an important advance in the ability to control an implant's bioactivity in line with requirements of future applications.     

Lignin solvated in zwitterionic Good's buffers displays antibacterial synergy against Staphylococcus aureus

The volume of industrial lignin is expected to increase with the deployment of biorefineries that convert lignocellulosic biomass to renewable chemicals and fuels. Interest in using lignin for value-added biomedical applications requires understanding of its effects on mammalian and microbial cells, which has been impaired by the toxicity of the solvents used to solubilize lignin. In this study, lignin is solvated in zwitterionic Good's buffers compatible with culture media. Up to 100 mg lignin can be solvated in 1 ml of 3-morpholinopropane-1-sulfonic acid (MOPS, pH 7.2) within 60 min at room temperature, whereby MOPS acts as a chaotropic agent. The addition of MOPS-solvated lignin to cultures of Staphylococcus aureus UAMS-1 containing a subinhibitory concentration of tunicamycin reduced growth more than 99% compared to tunicamycin alone, making lignin of interest as an antibiotic adjuvant. This effect of lignin is attributed to damage to the bacterial cell membrane.     

Mg-Gd-Y-Zr合金TIG电弧熔覆层微观组织演变及力学性能研究

目的 在AZ91D镁合金表面熔覆Mg-Gd-Y-Zr合金，分析熔覆层微观组织演变规律及其对熔覆层力学性能的影响。方法 采用直流脉冲钨极氩弧焊（DC PTIG welding），在不同平均电流下，将Mg-Gd-Y-Zr合金焊丝送入AZ91D镁合金熔池，制备熔覆层。采用金相显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、能谱仪及X射线衍射仪，分析不同平均电流条件下的熔覆层微观组织。基于显微维氏硬度仪与往复式滑动摩擦磨损设备，表征熔覆层硬度及摩擦学性能。结果 熔覆层微观组织主要由α-Mg、Mg24(Gd,Y)5及Al2(Gd,Y)相组成。熔覆层呈现明显分层特征，主要是由晶界Mg24(Gd,Y)5相分布差异造成。平均电流增大，熔覆层中心晶粒尺寸先保持不变，而后快速增大，Al2(Gd,Y)相由细小弥散颗粒变为团聚状分布，晶界Mg24(Gd,Y)5相则由连续网状演变为不连续岛状，直至变为细小颗粒状。熔覆层硬度随平均电流增加，呈现略微上升，随后快速下降的趋势，其最高硬度达90.8HV。摩擦磨损测试过程中，平均电流为110 A所得熔覆层失重速率小于AZ91D基材。结论 采用DC PTIG在AZ91D基体表面成功制备了耐磨性能优于基体的含Gd、Y稀土元素的熔覆层，稀释率决定熔覆层Al2(Gd,Y)相形貌及分布规律。