Characterization,in vitro bioactivity and biological studies of sol-gel-derived TiO2 substituted 58S bioactive glass

Bioactive glasses (BGs) have been used for bone formation and bone repair processes in recent years. This study investigated the titanium substitution effect on 58S BGs (Ti-BGs) 60SiO₂-(36 − X)CaO-4P₂O₅-XTiO₂ (X = 0, 3, and 5 mol.%) prepared by the sol-gel technique, and the main goal was to find the optimum amount of titanium in Ti-BGs. Synthesized BGs, which were investigated after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), were tested by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover alkaline phosphate (ALP) activity, 3-(4,5dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and antibacterial studies were employed to investigate the biological properties of Ti-BGs. According to the FTIR and XRD test results, hydroxyapatite (HA) formation on Ti-BGs surfaces was confirmed. Meanwhile, the presence of 5 mol.% compared to 3 mol.% increased the HA grain distribution and their size on the Ti-BGs surface. Additionally, MTT and ALP results confirmed that the optimal amount of titanium substitution in BG was 5 mol.%. Since 5 mol.% Ti incorporated BG (BG-5) had the highest biocompatibility level, antibacterial properties, maximum cell proliferation, and ALP activity among the synthesized Ti-BGs, it is presented as the best candidate for further in vivo investigations.     

Carbothermal conversion of self-supporting organic/inorganic interpenetrating networks to porous metal boride monoliths

In this work, we present a general sol-gel protocol for the synthesis of highly porous monolithic transition metal borides via carbothermal conversion of the organic/inorganic interpenetrating networks (IPNs). The formation of organic/inorganic IPNs is clearly demonstrated by simple oxidation and boiling water treatment. A series of transition metal boride porous monoliths, including CrB₂, ZrB₂, TiB₂, Cr₃C₂/CrB, and ZrB₂/ZrC with porosities ranging from 70% to 85% and pore sizes ranging from 0.5 to 35 μm, have been prepared. In each case, a porous hybrid monolith is obtained by drying the wet gel under ambient pressure. It is believed that the formation of organic/inorganic IPNs strengthens the gel network, so that it can withstand the severe changes during desiccation to give out a monolithic xerogel. Samples are characterized by TG-DSC, XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, BET, and MIP, and the ceramic monoliths are shown to be well defined and rather homogeneous.     

Structure and electrical properties of Zn-doped BiFeO3 films

BiFe_1−xZn_xO₃ (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mol%) (BFZO) films were prepared on ITO/glass substrates by a sol-gel method. The effects of different Zn contents on the structures and electrical properties of the BFZO films were investigated. From X-ray diffraction (XRD), microstructure and X-ray spectroscopy (XPS) results, the BFZO films with a Zn content of 1 mol% showed a better crystal structure and grain development, and the Fe²⁺ and oxygen vacancy concentrations in this sample were the lowest among all the evaluated BFZO films. The P-E hysteresis loop indicated that the BFZO films with 1 mol% Zn had the highest remanent polarization (2Pr), which was 82.4 μC/cm², along with a coercive field (2E_c) of 887 kV/cm at the tested electric field of 857 kV/cm. The BFZO film with 1 mol% Zn had the lowest leakage current density, which was 3.54 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm² at the tested electric field of 200 kV/cm. Both at high and low electric fields, the space charge-limited current (SCLC) conduction mechanism was the main leakage mechanism. When the test frequency was 10⁵ Hz, the dielectric constant was 133, and the dissipation factor was 0.015.     

Fabrication of TiO2 photocatalytic electrode and contamination control with atmospheric pressure O2 plasma jet

In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication of TiO₂ photocatalytic electrode by sol-gel and electrospinning technique. The anatase TiO₂ nanofiber is successfully formed after thermal annealing at 260°C. As-prepared TiO₂ photocatalytic electrode contains surface contamination, which includes a polymer binder such as ethyl cellulose, carbon by carbonization of polyvinylpyrrolidone, and residue polyvinylpyrrolidone. To efficiently remove the surface contaminants from the TiO₂ photocatalytic electrode, we employ an atmospheric-pressure O₂ plasma jet and the exposure time is controlled by the scanning rate. As the results, photodegradation efficiency of methylene blue is significantly enhanced with a scanning rate in the range of 100-500 μm/s and was saturated with a scanning rate in the range of 10-100 μm/s.     

一种超亲水自清洁、智能控温的钨掺杂二氧化钒薄膜的制备及其性能表征

本实验采用一种简单、低成本有效的溶胶-凝胶法制备了热致变色钨掺杂二氧化钒薄膜。首先将乙酰丙酮氧钒和氯化钨置于甲醇溶液中反应制备出前驱体,然后将前驱物旋涂在衬底基材上。最后在氩气氛围中、600 ℃进行退火。同时,对所制备的二氧化钒薄膜进行了XRD、XPS、SEM、UV和WCA等表征和测试。结果表明,钨掺杂二氧化钒薄膜颗粒尺寸范围从30～150 nm,薄膜的表面展现出优异的亲水性,其静态水接触角为12°。根据光学测试,钨掺杂VO₂薄膜表现出优异的光学性能与可见光调节效率(T_lum,s = 80.75%,T_lum,m = 79.24%)和优良的太阳能调节效率(ΔT_sol = 9.10%,T_sol,s = 81.40%,T_sol,m= 72.30%)。VO₂薄膜相变表现出可适用的相变温度:在钨掺杂摩尔量为2%时,其相变温度为32 ℃。     

Evaluation of dermal toxicity of antibacterial cotton textile coated by sol-gel technology

This paper reports about cotton textile modification by sol-gel technology with the purpose of obtaining antibacterial properties, evaluation of antibacterial properties and dermal toxicity tests of cotton textile with Zn and Si coating. Antibacterial properties evaluation against pathogenic microorganisms Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli made using the Parallel streak method in accordance with ATCC147 standard. For more specific evaluation of the coated textile, in vitro cytotoxicity test with epidermal HaCat cells was done. It is concluded that the coatings containing Zn and Si obtained by the sol-gel technology can impart antibacterial properties against pathogenic bacteria to the textile by preventing the bacteria from growing; strong inhibition of growth was detected for all test microorganisms. Based on the dermal toxicity test results, it is not expected that the prolonged contact of the skin with coated textiles will have a negative impact on the skin tissue – epidermis.     

织物阻燃表面处理技术研究进展

为进一步提高阻燃纤维和织物的实用性,并拓宽其应用领域,综述了近期在进一步提高织物阻燃表面处理技术的处理品质和多功能化方面的研究进展。基于物理沉积法、化学表面改性法、溶胶-凝胶法和层层自组装法,阐述了提高表面处理品质,如耐水洗性、机械稳定性和力学强度等方面的研究结果,在此基础上,叙述了多功能阻燃表面处理技术的优势和应用状况。指出未来的织物阻燃表面处理技术发展重点将是如何有机地结合高品质与多功能,实现功能性阻燃织物的实用化,以此推动织物表面处理技术在可穿戴电子、家具、衣物和防护用品等领域的广泛应用。     

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.