Bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) loaded hybrid coating on porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

In this study, a silica xerogel-chitosan hybrid is utilized as a coating material to incorporate bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) on a porous hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffold for bone tissue engineering. BMP-2 is known as a therapeutic agent for improving bone regeneration and repair. Silica xerogel-chitosan hybrids have been used for the delivery of a growth factor as well as osteoconductive coatings. The biological properties of the hybrid coating incorporated with BMP-2 were evaluated in terms of the BMP-2 release behavior, osteoblastic cellular responses and in vivo performance. BMP-2 was continuously released from the hybrid coating layer on the porous HA scaffold for up to 6 weeks. The hybrid coating containing BMP-2 showed significantly enhanced osteoblastic cell responses in comparison with the hybrid coating and HA substrate. Consequently, new bone formation was significantly increased within the hybrid coating containing BMP-2. These results reveal that the hybrid coating containing BMP-2 has the potential to be used as a bone implant, whose osteogenic properties are promoted by the release of BMP-2 in a controlled manner for a prolonged period of time.     

Effect of excess PbO on microstructure and orientation of PZT(60/40) films

Lead zirconate titanate [PZT(60/40)] films were deposited by RF-magnetron sputtering using single oxide targets with various levels of excess PbO. The excess PbO in the film played an important role in the pyrochlore-to-perovskite transformation, nucleation and growth processes, orientation control, and crack formation. When 5% or 20% excess PbO was added to the target, pyrochlore phases were created and the films were severely cracked. However, the films had a perovskite structure without any pyrochlore phases when 10% or 15% excess PbO was added to the targets. More interestingly, the crystallographic orientation was strongly dependant on the excess PbO content. A film with a (111) preferred orientation was produced when 10% excess PbO was added to the target. On the other hand, a film with a (100) preferred orientation was deposited by the target with 15% excess PbO. The dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of these films with different orientations and microstructures were examined and correlated with the film structure.     

Novel Offset-Gated Bottom Gate Poly-Si TFTs With a Combination Structure of Ultrathin Channel and Raised Source/Drain

We propose an offset-gated bottom gate polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistor (TFT), with a combination structure of ultrathin channel and raised source/drain, employing a simple process of the back surface exposure. It is experimentally and simulatively demonstrated that the new device has lower leakage current and better saturation characteristics, as compared with the conventional non offset TFT, due to the lateral electric field near the drain, which is reduced by the proposed structure. Moreover, the proposed TFT exhibits much better ON/OFF current ratio because the high current drive due to the raised source/drain structure is enough to compensate for the ON-state current reduction due to the offset-gate structure.     

Production of biofilm and quorum sensing by Escherichia coli O157:H7 and its transfer from contact surfaces to meat,poultry, ready-to-eat deli,and produce products

Multistate outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections through consumption of contaminated foods including produce products have brought a great safety concern. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of biofilm and quorum sensing production on the attachment of E. coli O157:H7 on food contact surfaces and to evaluate the transfer of the pathogen from the food contact to various food products. E. coli O157:H7 produced maximum levels of AI-2 signals in 12 h of incubation in tested meat, poultry, and produce broths and subsequently formed strong biofilm in 24 h of incubation. In general, E. coli O157:H7 formed stronger biofilm on stainless steel than glass. Furthermore, E. coli O157:H7 that had attached on the surface of stainless steel was able to transfer to meat, poultry, ready-to-eat deli, and produce products. Strong attachment of the transferred pathogen on produce products (cantaloupe, lettuce, carrot, and spinach) was detected (>10³ CFU/cm²) even after washing these products with water. Our findings suggest that biofilm formation by E. coli O157:H7 on food contact surfaces can be a concern for efficient control of the pathogen particularly in produce products that require no heating or cooking prior to consumption.     

Biofilm formation by multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium phage type DT104 and other pathogens

The biofilm-forming capability of Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhimurium and Heidelberg, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from humans, animal farms, and retail meat products was evaluated by using a microplate assay. The tested bacterial species showed interstrain variation in their capabilities to form biofilms. Strong biofilm-forming strains of S. enterica serotypes, E. coli O157: H7, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and A. baumannii were resistant to at least four of the tested antibiotics. To understand their potential in forming biofilms in food-processing environments, the strong biofilm formers grown in beef, turkey, and lettuce broths were further investigated on stainless steel and glass surfaces. Among the tested strains, Salmonella Typhimurium phage type DT104 (Salmonella Typhimurium DT104) isolated from retail beef formed the strongest biofilm on stainless steel and glass in beef and turkey broths. K. pneumoniae, L. monocytogenes, and P. aeruginosa were also able to form strong biofilms on the tested surface materials. Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 developed a biofilm on stainless steel in beef and turkey broths through (i) initial attachment to the surface, (ii) formation of microcolonies, and (iii) biofilm maturation. These findings indicated that Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 alongwith other bacterial pathogens could be a source of cross-contamination during handling and processing of food.     

Antibiotic resistance and Caco-2 cell invasion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from farm environments and retail products

The potential pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from food animals, retail meat products, and food processing environments was evaluated by determining their antibiotic resistance profiles and invasiveness into human intestinal Caco-2 cell. In general, the genomically diversified isolates of P. aeruginosa were resistant to beta-lactams (ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefoxitin, ceftiofur, and cephalothin), chloramphenicol, tetracycline, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Acquisition of any other antibiotic resistance genes, such as class 1 integrons and other beta-lactamase genes, was not found in the tested isolates. The expression of OprM membrane protein, which is associated with a multidrug efflux system, played a major role in their antibiotic resistance. Single mutation in the GyrA to confer resistance to nalidixic acids was also found in the tested isolates, indicating that these factors could synergistically affect the resistance of the P. aeruginosa isolates. The number of bacteria invading into the Caco-2 cells was 2.5 log(10) CFU/ml on average. Therefore, the public health concern of P. aeruginosa could be relevant since its occurrence in food animals could cross contaminate the retail meat products during food handling and processing.     

Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from farm environments and retail products in Oklahoma

Multidrug-resistant enteric bacteria were isolated from turkey, cattle, and chicken farms and retail meat products in Oklahoma. Among the isolated species, multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae was prevalently isolated from most of the collected samples. Therefore, a total of 132 isolates of K. pneumoniae were characterized to understand their potential roles in the dissemination of antibiotic-resistance genes in the food chains. Multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae was most frequently recovered from a turkey farm and ground turkey products among the tested samples. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin, gentamycin, and kanamycin. Class 1 integrons located in plasmids were identified as a common carrier of the aadA1 gene, encoding resistance to streptomycin and spectinomycin. Production of beta-lactamase in the K. pneumoniae isolates played a major role in the resistance to beta-lactam agents. Most isolates (96%) possessed bla(SHV1). Five strains were able to express both SHV-11 (pI 6.2) and TEM-1 (pI 5.2) beta-lactamase. Transfer of these antibiotic-resistance genes to Escherichia coli was demonstrated by transconjugation. The bacterial genomic DNA restriction patterns by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that the same clones of multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae remained in feathers, feed, feces, and drinking water in turkey environments, indicating the possible dissemination of antibiotic-resistance genes in the ecosystem and cross-contamination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria during processing and distribution of products.     

Silica-chitosan hybrid coating on Ti for controlled release of growth factors

A hybrid material composed of a silica xerogel and chitosan was coated on Ti for the delivery of growth-factors. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and green fluorescence protein were incorporated into the coatings for hard tissue engineering. Silica was chosen as a coating material because of its high surface area as well as its good bioactivity. Chitosan provides mechanical stability and contributes to the control of the release rate of the growth factors. When the chitosan composition was 30% or more, the hybrid coating was stable physically and mechanically. The release of the growth-factors, observed in phosphate buffer solution at 37°C, was strongly dependent on the coating material. The hybrid coating containing FGF showed significantly improved osteoblast cell responses compared to the pure xerogel coating with FGF or the hybrid coating without FGF. These results indicate that the hybrid coating is potentially very useful in enhancing the bioactivity of metallic implants by delivering growth-factors in a controlled manner.     

The Electrical Properties of Unidirectional Metal-Induced Lateral Crystallized Polycrystalline-Silicon Thin-Film Transistors

It has been known that adjacent Pd enhances the crystallization rate in Ni metal-induced lateral crystallization (Ni-MILC) and this knowledge has been used to fabricate the unidirectional MILC thin-film transistors (TFTs), which eliminate the boundary formed at the center of TFT channel in a normal MILC TFTs. It is discovered that the MILC/MILC boundary (MMB) is responsible for the high leakage current and low field- effect mobility. The electrical properties of unidirectional MILC TFTs (Width/Length = 10/10 mum) improved considerably comparing to those of MILC TFTs containing the MMB. The leakage current and field-effect mobility, which have been regarded as obstacles for industrialization of the MILC process, measure to be 2.1 X 10-11 A and 83 cm²/ V ldr s, respectively.     

Synthesis of nanoporous calcium phosphate spheres using poly(acrylic acid) as a structuring unit

Calcium phosphate (CaP) spheres with nanopores were synthesized using poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as the structuring unit. In this method, colloidal droplets of the PAA/Ca²⁺ complex were prepared by adding a Ca(NO₃)₂ solution to a PAA aqueous solution and then mixed with an (NH₄)₂HPO₄ solution, which allowed the nucleation and growth of CaP nanocrystals in the PAA matrix. Thereafter, the as-synthesized PAA/CaP spheres were heat-treated at 550 °C for 3 h to remove the PAA phase, followed by treatment in ammonium nitrate solution to remove the CaO phase formed as an impurity. The prepared CaP spheres showed a narrow size distribution with an average diameter of 146 ± 43 nm and nanopores formed via the removal of the CaO phase.