Controlling fibroblast adhesion and proliferation by 1D Al2 O3 nanostructures

The fibrotic encapsulation, which is mainly accompanied by an excessive proliferation of fibroblasts, is an undesired phenomenon after the implantation of various medical devices. Beside the surface chemistry, the topography plays also a major role in the fibroblast–surface interaction. In the present study, one‐dimensional aluminium oxide (1D Al₂ O₃) nanostructures with different distribution densities were prepared to reveal the response of human fibroblasts to the surface topography. The cell size, the cell number and the ability to form well‐defined actin fibres and focal adhesions were significantly impaired with increasing distribution density of the 1D Al₂ O₃ nanostructures on the substratum.Inspec keywords: biomechanics, adhesion, surface chemistry, biomedical materials, cellular biophysics, surface topography, nanostructured materials, alumina, nanomedicineOther keywords: fibrotic encapsulation, medical devices, surface chemistry, human fibroblasts, surface topography, cell size, cell number, well‐defined actin fibres, focal adhesions, distribution density, fibroblast adhesion, 1D nanostructures, distribution densities, fibroblast proliferation, fibroblast‐surface interaction, one‐dimensional aluminium oxide nanostructures, Al₂ O₃      

Synthesis and microstructure of nanostructured Al/Al2O3 (H)-composite

By means of a metal organic chemical vapour deposition, starting from a single precursor compound [tBuOAlH₂]₂, an aluminium/aluminium hydrido-oxide composite has been synthesized in thin layers. Electron micrographs indicate self-similarity. A detailed analysis by small angle neutron scattering directly yields a surface fractal microstructure with a fractal dimension of 2.26; in the framework of a surface fractal model we determine the relevant particle dimensions and their size distribution.     

热喷涂纳米结构Al2 O3/TiO2涂层及其应用

为进一步揭示热喷涂纳米结构Al2O3/TiO2陶瓷涂层的强韧耐磨机制,通过对比力学性能试验,采用SEM,ESEM,TEM和XRD研究了这种新型纳米结构热喷涂涂层的组织特征,探讨了纳米稀土合金化对涂层微观组织和性能的作用.研究结果表明,这种新型纳米结构陶瓷涂层具有纳米和亚微米尺度三维网络状显微组织特征,呈现出高的韧性,耐磨性与涂层的韧性之间有密切的关系.     

Preparing of nanostructured Al2O3–TiO2–ZrO2 composite powders and plasma spraying nanostructured composite coating

Nanostructured Al₂O₃–TiO₂–ZrO₂ composite powders for plasma spraying were prepared by spray drying granulation technology. The effects of processing parameters on the microstructure and properties of composite powders were investigated. The results show that with increasing the slurry solid content, the particle size of powders increases, and the bulk density of powders increases, and the flowability of powders increases firstly and then decreases. With increasing the binder content, the particle size of powders increases, and the bulk density of powders increases, and the flowability of powders increases firstly and then decreases. With increasing the spray drying temperature, the particle size of powders increases, and the bulk density and flowability of powders increases firstly and then decreases. The most appropriate spray drying parameters are the slurry solid content of 40 wt.%, the binder content of 2.0 wt.% and the spray drying temperature of 250 °C. The nanostructured composite coating was successfully prepared by using the as-prepared nanostructured Al₂O₃–TiO₂–ZrO₂ composite powders as feedstocks. The nanostructured coating possessed higher hardness and toughness compared with the conventional microstructured one, which was attributed to the use of the nanostructured composite powders feedstocks.     

Plasma spraying of Al2O3 and Al2O3Y2O3

A microstructural study has been carried out of plasma-sprayed Al₂O₃ and mixed and sintered Al₂O₃Y₂O₃. In order to ascertain the degree of metastability achieved by plasma spraying, these results are compared with a similar experiment utilizing a CO₂ laser for melting and the hammer-and-anvil technique for quenching of the same materials. X-ray diffraction methods were used to determine the obtained phases and crystal structures. In addition, transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm the phases present and to study their morpology. The porosity was studied with both mercury intrusion porosimetry and small angle neutron scattering. The addition of Y₂O₃ is shown to decrease the porosity from 15% to 7.5%. Adhesion is likewise related to the addition of Y₂O₃ and it is seen that adhesion of the mixture is measurably improved over that of pure Al₂O₃. The implication of these results is discussed.     

Mechanical analysis of indentation cracking in Al2O3/ZrO2 nanostructured laminated ceramics

Residual stress is not the only driving force for indentation cracking in Al2O3/ZrO2 laminated ceramics. An additional driving force is induced by martensitic transformation in the plastic zone beneath the indenter, whereas surface residual compressive stress controls the expansion of surface cracks. Contributions of the transformation driving force and surface residual stress are not considered in the traditional indentation and indentation-strength theory. Therefore, fracture toughness value measured by the traditional methods is usually lower than the practical one in Al2O3/ZrO2 laminated ceramics. When the improved SENB (Single edge notched beam method)-indentation-fracture method from Japanese Industrial Standard (No. JIS R 1607-1990) is used to measure fracture toughness of Al2O3/ZrO2 laminated ceramics, the value is more reliable.     

Surface,grain-boundary and interfacial energies in Al2O3 and Al2O3-Sn,Al2O3-Co systems

Using the multiphase equilibrium method for the measurement of contact angles, the surface and grain-boundary energies of polycrystalline Al₂O₃ in the temperature range of 1473 to 1923 K were determined. Linear temperature functions were obtained by extrapolation for both quantities between absolute zero and the melting point of Al₂O₃. The temperature dependence of the surface and grain boundary energies can be expressed as $$\gamma _{{\rm A}l_2 O_3 } = 2.559 - 0.784 \times 10^{ - 3} T(J m^{ - 2} )$$ and $$\gamma _{{\rm A}l_2 O_3 - Al_2 O_3 = } 1.913 - 0.611 \times 10^{ - 3} T(J m^{ - 2} )$$ respectively. The interfacial energies of Al₂O₃ in contact with the molten metals tin and cobalt revealed a linear dependence on temperature.     

Synthesis and physicochemical characterizations of nanostructured Pt/Al2O3-CeO2 catalysts for total oxidation of VOCs

Pt/Al(2)O(3)-CeO(2) nanocatalysts with Pt loading of 1% and ceria loading of 10, 20 and 30% were successfully prepared via wet impregnation method to be utilized in catalytic oxidation of BTX. The nanocatalysts were characterized using XRD, FESEM, TEM, N(2) adsorption, FTIR and TPR-H(2) techniques. The XRD patterns confirmed the formation of cerium oxide as the crystalline phase on alumina with the average crystallite size of 8.1-8.7 nm, derived by Scherrer equation. FESEM images confirmed that these nanocatalysts had ceria particles in nano-ranges. TEM analysis showed that platinum particles were fairly well dispersed on Al(2)O(3)-CeO(2) with an average size of 5-20 nm. BET surface area presented large surface area for nanocatalysts. TPR patterns showed that by adding 1% platinum to support, the reducibility is highly increased. These patterns also revealed the promoting effect of ceria on reducibility of Pt and Al(2)O(3). The results of toluene oxidation indicated that the synthesized nanocatalysts were highly active and able to remove nearly 100% of toluene and xylene and about 85% of benzene as representative VOCs. The presence of nanoparticles along with good characteristics of the synthesized nanocatalysts presented them as highly efficient materials for catalytic oxidation of VOCs.     

Slip casting of Al2O3 and Al2O3/ZrO2 composites

Al₂O₃ and Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ composites have been fabricated by slip casting from aqueous suspensions. The physical and structural characteristics of the starting powders, composition of the suspensions, casting behaviour, microstructure of the green and fired bodies and the mechanical properties of the products were investigated. The addition of ZrO₂ to Al₂O₃ leads to a significant increase in fracture toughness when ZrO₂ particles are retained in the tetragonal form (transformation-toughening mechanism) but when microcracking (due to the spontaneous transformation of ZrO₂ from the tetragonal phase to the monoclinic one) is dominant, an excellent toughness value is accompanied by a drastic drop in strength and hardness.     

Microstructure and Strength of Al2O3/Al2O3 Joints Bonded with ZnO-Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2 Glass-Ceramic

ZnO-Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2 （ZABS） glass powder was used as interlayer to join alumina ceramics. The effect of joining temperature on the microstructure and strength of joints was investigated. The results showed that the ZABS glass can react with alumina substrate to form a layer of ZnAl2O4 at Al2O3/glass interface. Bending test exhibited that low joining temperature （1150℃） led to low joint strength due to the formation of pores in the interlayer, originated by high viscosity of the glass. High joining temperature （1250 ℃） also resulted in low joint strength, because of large CTE （coefficient of thermal expansion） mismatch between amorphous interlayer and alumina substrate. Therefore, only when the joining temperature was appropriate （1200℃）, defect-free interface and high joint strength can be obtained. The optimum joint strength reached 285 MPa, which was the same as the base material strength.     

Organotitanate dispersants for BaTiO3 and Al2O3

An alkoxytitanium carboxylate of a branched carboxylic acid was synthesized and its effectiveness as a dispersant for oxide powders determined. The amount of titanate required to produce stable dispersions & nonaqueous media corresponded to monomolecular layer coverage of the oxide particles by the titanate. Low-molecular-weight organotitanate dispersants should prove useful as substitutes for fish oil or polymers in ceramics processing.     

Polarization-dependent angular-optical reflectance in solar-selective SnOx:F/Al2O3/Al reflector surfaces

Polarization-dependent angular-optical properties of spectrally selective reflector surfaces of fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnOx:F) deposited pyrolytically on anodized aluminum are reported. The angular-reflectance measurements, for which both s- and p-polarized light are used in the solar wavelength range 0.3-2.5 microm, reveal strong spectral selectivity, and the angular behavior is highly dependent on the polarizing component of the incident beam, the total film thickness, and the individual thickness of the Al2O3 and the SnO2:F layers. The anodic A12O3 layers were produced electrochemically and varied between 100 and 205 nm in thickness. The SnOx:F films were grown pyrolytically at a temperature of 400 degrees C with film thicknesses varying in the range 180-320 nm. The reflectors were aimed at silicon solar cells, and good spectrally selective reflector characteristics were achieved with these thinly preanodized, SnOx:F/Al samples; that is, high cell reflectance was obtained for wavelengths below 1.1 microm and low thermal reflectance for wavelengths above 1.1 microm, with the best samples having values of 0.80 and 0.42, respectively, at near-normal angles of incidence. This corresponds to an anodic layer thickness of 155 nm. Both the angular calculations and the experimental measurements show that the cell reflectance is relatively insensitive to the incidence angle, and a low thermal reflectance is maintained up to an angle of approximately 60 degrees.     

提高钢基表面Al_2O_3薄膜结合力的研究

采用射频磁控溅射法在40Cr基体上制备了非晶态Al2O3薄膜,并研究了工艺参数(溅射功率,工作气压,溅射时间)、预处理工艺以及中间层对薄膜结合性能的影响。试验结果表明,采用射频溅射法,在功率为250W、工作气压为5.0Pa、时间为3h条件下制备的薄膜结合力最好。基体经过腐蚀预处理和加入镍磷中间层均能改善膜基结合力,后者效果更显著。     

Wear behavior of nanostructured Al/Al2O3 composite fabricated via accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process

In the present work, wear behavior of nanostructured aluminum and composite performed by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process was investigated. The wear characteristics were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Also, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and crystallographic texture investigations were performed. The results indicated that the ARB process led to the decrease in wear resistance of the monolithic and composite samples compared with as-received aluminum strip. The adhesive, abrasive and delaminating wear mechanisms occurred in the monolithic and composite samples simultaneously. At higher number of ARB cycles, delamination was the dominant wear mechanism. It was found that the surface damage of the composite was more extensive than that of the monolithic sample due to the occurrence of spalling mechanism. It was suggested that the intense Rotated Cube {0 0 1}〈1 1 0〉 texture component of composite helped to crack nucleation and propagation greatly. The role of delamination and especially, spalling in decreasing the wear resistance of composite was very important such that it eliminated the role of reinforcing particles and grain size on the wear resistance.     

Al2O3 and Al2O3--TiN wear resistance in a simulated biological environment

Alumina is widely used as a biomaterial because of its high biocompatibility and its good mechanical properties except toughness. In this study, a composite material Al₂O₃–TiN is considered as an alternative, the addition of TiN improving the mechanical properties of alumina. The wear behaviour of Al₂O₃ and Al₂O₃–TiN in aqueous solutions simulating living environments has been thus compared using a pin on disc wear-testing machine. The results show that the mechanisms of material removal during wear are different. For alumina, a mechanical wear mechanism is observed, reduced by the lubricating action of the wet media, and alumina–TiN is worn by a combination of tribochemical and abrasive effects.     

Combinatorial coating of adhesive polypeptide and anti-CD34 antibody for improved endothelial cell adhesion and proliferation

Improved attachment, adhesion and proliferation of the surrounding mature endothelial cells (ECs) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is of primary importance to realize the in situ rapid re-endothelialization of cardiovascular stents. To achieve this, a combinatorial coating of synthesized mussel adhesive polypeptide mimics as well as anti-CD34 antibody was constructed onto the devices through a novel adsorption method in this study. To immobilize the polypeptide and target antibody effectively, polycaprolactone (PCL) was first spin-coated onto the substrate as intermediate. The immobilization of polypeptide and antibody was confirmed by the changes of water contact angles and the attachment, growth of ECs and EPCs on the substrates, respectively. The results showed that after adhesive polypeptide or/and antibody immobilization, the hydrophilicity of coated PCL substrate (PCLS) was obviously improved. The amount of the immobilized antibody, determined by enzymelinked immunoassay (ELISA) method, was enhanced with the increase of antibody concentrations in the range from 5 to 25 μg/ml. The coatings after BSA blocking prevented the unspecific protein adsorption as monitored by fluorescent microscopy. The results of in vitro cell culture showed that compared with the PCLS, polypeptide/anti-CD34 antibody coating could effectively enhance the attachment, growth and adhesion of ECs and EPCs, in particular EPCs. A platelet adhesion experiment revealed that the blood compatibility of the PCLS after polypeptide/anti-CD34 antibody coating was also obviously improved. The results showed that the surface modification with adhesive polypeptide and anti-CD34 antibody will be a promising coating technique for the surface modification of the intravascular prostheses for rapid re-endothelialization.