Size controlled synthesis of well-distributed nano-silver on hydroxyapatite using alkanolamine compounds

A well-distributed nano-silver hydroxyapatite composite has been successfully prepared by a one-pot synthesis method. Hydroxyapatite was separately synthesized by a sol-gel method, then impregnated with silver nanoparticles with the mediation of Uncaria gambir Roxb. leaf extract in the presence of three kinds of alkanolamine compound; monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) as capping agents. The effect of different capping agents on the properties of the silver nanoparticles and the nano-silver hydroxyapatite composite were studied. UV–visible spectrophotometer analysis exhibited absorbance peaks at 402–439 nm which specifically corresponds to spherical silver nanoparticles. Higher optical absorbance was observed in TEA-capped silver nanoparticles, than in DEA and MEA-capped ones. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed a highly crystalline hexagonal structure for hydroxyapatite and no detected metallic silver. However, the presence of 1.65% silver was confirmed by energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy analysis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed spherical silver nanoparticles with a size range of 2–62 nm (smallest mean diameter of 2 nm) adhered to the hydroxyapatite surface. The TEA capped impregnated silver nanoparticles were the smallest, corresponding to the best capping performance, followed by those capped by DEA and MEA. Small-sized nanoparticles on hydroxyapatite are beneficial for highly antibacterial bone implants.     

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.     

Improved Fibroblast Functionalities by Microporous Pattern Fabricated by Microelectromechanical Systems

Fibroblasts, which play an important role in biological seal formation and maintenance, determine the long-term success of percutaneous implants. In this study, well-defined microporous structures with micropore diameters of 10–60 µm were fabricated by microelectromechanical systems and their influence on the fibroblast functionalities was observed. The results show that the microporous structures with micropore diameters of 10–60 µm did not influence the initial adherent fibroblast number; however, those with diameters of 40 and 50 µm improved the spread, actin stress fiber organization, proliferation and fibronectin secretion of the fibroblasts. The microporous structures with micropore diameters of 40–50 µm may be promising for application in the percutaneous part of an implant.     

一种Ti-6Al-4V功能梯度网状结构的设计与压缩性能

通过电子束选区熔化制造具有高孔隙率的多孔Ti-6Al-4V结构,旨在用于替代人类松质骨.开放的网状结构能够提供骨组织向内生长的空间,因此能更好的起到固定的作用.利用计算机辅助设计（CAD）,制备一种低密度（0.78 g/cm3）,高孔隙率（82%）,弹性模量为2.7 GPa的功能梯度网状结构.结果表明,制备的功能梯度网状结构与致密件相比,具有和松质骨接近的的弹性模量,能够有效的避免应力屏蔽效应.此外,通过增加层与层之间的厚度,可以有效的防止裂纹在网状结构中快速扩展,提高安全性.此结构的屈服强度为62 MPa,试样的组织中的细小的α’相有利于提高植入物的寿命.     

Fabrication of highly bioactive zirconia ceramics via grain-boundary activation for dental implants

Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) ceramics with outstanding mechanical properties and aesthetic origins are expected to be used in dental implant applications. However, tetragonal zirconia ceramics are not bioactive, which affect the osseointegration and reliability as dental implant materials. Herein, in this study, Y-TZP ceramics were modified by grain-boundary activation via coating a bioactive glass (BG) sol with different content on the crystal surfaces of zirconia powder and followed by being gelled, dried, granulated, low-temperature treated, molded and sintered at 1450°C for 3 h in air. The effects of BG content on the morphology, phase compositions, mechanical properties, in vitro mineralization ability and cell biological properties of the bioactivity modified Y-TZP ceramics were evaluated. The BG additive did not affect the tetragonal–monoclinic phase transformation of ZrO₂. However, the addition of BG decreased the flexural strength of the modified Y-TZP ceramics compared to that of Y-TZP. The in vitro mineralization results showed that a homogeneous apatite layer was produced on the surface of the Y-TZP ceramics when they were immersed in the simulated body fluid for 21 days. The cell response results indicated that the bioactive surface modification of Y-TZP ceramics could promote cell adhesion, propagation and osteogenic differentiation performance. Thus, our research results suggest that the highly bioactive Y-TZP ceramics could be a potential candidate for dental implant material.     

钛合金植入物梯度孔结构设计及其力学性能

植入物多孔结构的设计研究多以规则孔结构为主,而少有针对梯度孔结构设计。本文提出平面center及空间sphere两种梯度圆孔设计方法,实现完成对某一平面center梯度孔的植入物结构设计,采用激光选区熔化技术(Selective Laser Melting, SLM)制备出孔隙率为75%的医用钛合金Ti6Al4V梯度孔与规则孔结构植入物样件,进行微观材料表征和力学性能测试,得到相关力学数据。结果表明：该种梯度孔结构的力学性能优于规则孔,在孔隙率为75%的条件下,梯度孔样件的平均弹性模量较规则孔高36.25%,平均抗压强度提高29.9%。     

Biomechanical Evaluation of Ti-Nb-Sn Alloy Implants with a Low Young’s Modulus

Dental implants are widely used and are a predictable treatment in various edentulous cases. Occlusal overload may be causally related to implant bone loss and a loss of integration. Stress concentrations may be diminished using a mechanobiologically integrated implant with bone tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical behavior, biocompatibility and bioactivity of a Ti-Nb-Sn alloy as a dental implant material. It was compared with cpTi. Cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were quantified. To assess the degree of osseointegration, a push-in test was carried out. Cell proliferation and ALP activity in the cells grown on prepared surfaces were similar for the Ti-Nb-Sn alloy and for cpTi in all the experiments. A comparison between the Ti-Nb-Sn alloy implant and the cpTi implant revealed that no significant difference was apparent for the push-in test values. These results suggest that implants fabricated using Ti-Nb-Sn have a similar biological potential as cpTi and are capable of excellent osseointegration.     

表面电荷的调控对钛表面纤维连接蛋白吸附能力影响的研究

通过对钛片表面电荷的调控来改变纯钛表面的蛋白吸附能力,改善其生物学性能。将大颗粒喷砂酸蚀的样本分别浸泡在不同的溶液中,分别观察检测不同样本表面形貌及表面元素构成,各组样本的表面粗糙度,以及各组样本表面的电荷状况。最后检测各组样本的纤维连接蛋白吸附能力。结果表明,各组样本表面具有相似的表面形貌,不同组表面因为浸泡的液体不同其表面元素各不相同;各组样本的表面粗糙度无显著差异;而浸泡在氯化钙溶液中的钛片具有最高蛋白吸附能力(P0.01),而对照组大颗粒喷砂酸蚀组吸附能力最弱。将钛片浸泡在含有二价钙离子的氯化钙溶液中可以改变钛片表面的电荷状态,提升蛋白吸附能力,从而改善其生物学性能。     

Preparation and characterization of wollastonite/titanium oxide nanofiber bioceramic composite as a future implant material

In this study, novel composites consisting of electrospun titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanofibers incorporated into high-purity wollastonite glass ceramics were prepared as materials for use in hard tissue engineering applications. These materials were characterized and investigated by means of physical, mechanical and in vitro studies. The proposed composite showed greater densification and better mechanical characteristics compared to pure wollastonite. The influence of densification temperature and TiO₂ content was investigated. Typically, TiO₂/wollastonite composites having 0, 10, 20 and 30 wt% metal oxide nanofibers were sintered at 900, 1100 and 1250 °C. The results indicated that increasing TiO₂ nanofibers content leads to increase the bulk density, compressive strength and microhardness with negligible, high and moderate influence for the densification temperature, respectively. While porosity and water adsorption capacity decreased with increasing the metal oxide nanofibers with a considerable impact for the sintering temperature in both properties. Moreover, bone-like apatite formed on the surface of wollastonite and wollastonite/TiO₂ nanofibers soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF). All these results show that the inclusion of TiO₂ nanofibers improved the characteristics of wollastonite while preserving its in vitro bioactivity; hence, the proposed composite may be used as a bone substitute in high load bearing sites.