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Still unsolved is the problem of monitoring the tissue regeneration with the use of implants (substrates) in in vivo conditions. The multitude of implant materials combined with their specific immanent often limit standard diagnostic methods, i.e. X-rey or computer tomography (CT). This is particularly difficult in therapies using polymeric high-resistance substrates for tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to fabricate a non-woven carbon fiber composed of carbon fibers (CF) which were then subjected to a surface modification by magnetron sputtering. A layer of iron (Fe) was applied under inert conditions (argon) for different time periods (2-10 min). It was shown that already after 2-4 minutes of iron sputtering, the voxel surface (CF_Fe2', CF_Fe4') was covered with a heterogeneous iron layer observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS). The longer the modification time, the more uniform the layer on the fiber surface becomes. This can be seen by the change in the wettability of the nonwoven surface which decreases from 131° for CF_Fe2 to 120° for CF_Fe10. The fibers do not change their geometry or dimensions (~11.5 um). The determination of pore size distribution by adsorption and desorption techniques (BJH) and specific surface area by nitrogen adsorption method (BET) have shown that the high specific surface area for the CF_Fe2' fibers decreases by 10% with the increasing iron sputtering time. All the studied CF_Fe fibers show good biocompatibility with osteoblastlike cells MG-63 cells after both 3 and 7 days of culture. Osteoblasts adhere to the fiber surface and show correct morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the work was to create a layer of carbon nanofibre on the surface of the NiTi shape memory alloy. The coating process was carried out in three stages. First, polyacrylonitrile was deposited by electrospinning. Then it was stabilized at temperatures up to 250°C. The last stage was the carbonization performed below 1000°C. The microstructure of the obtained coatings was observed using a scanning electron microscope. The X-ray diffraction techniques were applied to analyze the coating structure. After the polyacrylonitrile deposition, the fibers had an average diameter of about 280 nm, and the final fibers were almost twice as tiny. The applied steps also changed the phase and crystalline state of the fibers, finally leading to the formation of amorphous-nanocrystalline graphite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tb[sup 3+]-doped Lu[sub 2]O[sub 3] sintered ceramics were prepared in vacuum and in air. It was shown that the vacuum-sintered disks are able to store energy when irradiated with 300-nm or shorter photons. A small part of the stored energy could be recovered with 980-nm light. A much more significant amount of the stored energy could be released with red 647-nm photons. However, recovering the total stored energy could be accomplished only upon heating up to about 300 °C. Changes in absorption of the raw materials upon ultraviolet irradiation and subsequent IR (980 and 647 nm) treatments or upon heating at 300 °C are presented and discussed. A model for energy storing and recovering through the various IR irradiations or through heating is presented. At least two distinct ways of hole trapping as Tb[sup 4+] or V[sub k]-center as well as creation off and F[sup +] is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the characteristics of magnesium aluminium silicate-gentamicin complexes for drug delivery systems. The work describes the results of studies on the successful introduction of gentamicin (an aminoglycoside antibiotic) into the interlayers of smectite clay and examines the possible use of intercalated smectite as a carrier for sustained drug release. Characterisation of magnesium aluminium silicate-gentamicin complexes was carried out by means of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy with EDX analysis. The possibility of using the gentamicin intercalated smectite as a carrier for sustained release of the drug was investigated during in vitro study, in which the release rate of gentamicin from the smectite clay matrix was monitored based on absorption at 330 nm using a UV-Vis spectrometer and the kinetic of drug release was evaluated based on the zero-order, first-order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models. The results confirmed the efficiency of intercalation and indicate the potential for introducing gentamicin into the interlayer space of montmorillonite. Accordingly, the obtained material may thus be used as a drug carrier in modulated drug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-based nanocomposites containing biocompatible and bioactive nanocomponents seem to be excellent materials that could be used in many biomedical applications. The aim of this study was biological evaluation of resorbable polymer-based nanocomposites (PLA, PCL) and their modifications with ceramic nanoparticles (silica - SiO2, montmorylonit - MMT) or carbon nanotubes. The nanocomposites were seeded with the human osteoblast-like MG 63 cells. After 1, 3 and 7 days of incubation, Trypan blue exclusion test was used to determine the viability and number of cells. The cell population density depending on incubation time and cell population doubling time was calculated. The cell proliferation abilities on the all applied nanocomposites and on control material (polystyrene cell culture plate) were also compared. The number of cells growing on the nanocomposite surfaces increased with the incubation time. The cell viability was not decreased for all applied materials during the entire study (97-100%). The ceramic nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes modified the bone cell growth and proliferation rate. Results of this study confirm that all types of the nanocomposites are appropriate to the growing and proliferation of human osteoblast-like cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposite polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering were prepared using leaching method. As a porogen there were used phosphate salts with different grain size (100-400 μm). Nanocomposite materials based on polylactide (PL/DLA) containing 2 wt% of ceramic bioactive nanoadditives (SiO2) were prepared. The nanoadditive was characterized by dynamic light scatering (DLS) (size) and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (specific surface area) methods. Morphology of the nanoparticles was observed using the transmission electron microscopy. The optimal concentration of the nanofiller in the polymer matrix was evaluated on the basis of in vitro tests of the nanocomposite foils contacted with osteoblast-like human cells of MG63 line. The morphology and porosity of the scaffold after leaching was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and hydrostatic weighing. The bioactivity test made on the scaffolds demonstrated ability to nucleation of apatite structure on the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scintillator materials are widely used in X-ray medical imaging detector applications, coupled with available photoreceptors like radiographic film or photoreceptors suitable for digital imaging like a-Si, charge-coupled devises (CCD), complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS) and GaAs). In addition, scintillators can be utilized in non-medical imaging detectors such as industrial detectors for non-destructive testing (NDT) and detectors used for security purposes (i.e. airport luggage control). Image quality and dose burden in the above applications is associated with the amount of optical photons escaping the scintillator as well as the amount of optical photons captured by the photoreceptor. The former is characterized by the scintillator efficiency and the latter by the spectral matching between the emission spectrum of the scintillator and the spectral response of the photoreceptor. Recently, a scintillator material, europium-activated lutetium oxide (LuO:Eu), has shown improved scintillating properties. LuO:Eu samples of compact nanocrystalline non-agglomerated powder were developed in our laboratory using homogeneous precipitation from a water-toluene solution in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol as a surfactant. In order to test their light-emission properties, experimental measurements under the excitation of X-ray spectra with X-ray tube voltages between 50 kVp and 140 kVp were performed. This range of applied voltages is appropriate for X-ray radiology, NDT and security applications. LuO:Eu was evaluated with respect to output yield and spectral compatibility of digital imaging photoreceptors (CCD-based, CMOS-based, amorphous silicon a:Si flat panels, ES20 and GaAs). High light yield and spectral compatibility increase the performance of the medical detector and reduce the dose burden to the personnel involved. In addition a theoretical model was used to determine the values for the LuO:Eu optical photon light propagation parameters. The inverse diffusion length was found to be equal to 33 cm/g. In addition LuO:Eu was found to match well with several photoreceptors capable of digital imaging (i.e. GaAs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powders and thin films of nanocrystalline yttrium disilicate (Y2Si2O7) doped with Ce3+ have been prepared by a sol–gel method. Structure and morphology of the synthesised samples have been determined and spectroscopic properties compared. The triclinic α-Y2Si2O7 form (space group P 1-) for the powders annealed between 1000°C and 1200°C has been found. A total conversion into a thortveitite-type monoclinic β-Y2Si2O7 polymorph after annealing of powder samples at 1400°C (space group C2/m) has been observed. In the case of films even at 1300°C the basically pure triclinic α-Y2Si2O7 phase was observed with luminescent spectroscopy. The influence of grain size, controlled by thermal treatment, on the structure and luminescence properties of the fabricated materials are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decay kinetics and X-ray diffraction patterns of Lu 2 O 3 :Eu with concentration of the dopant spanning 0-20% were measured for two series of materials with crystallites sized of 13 nm and 35 nm. For the series of smaller crystallites a very significant concentration quenching was observed, while for the larger crystallites the effect was minor only. Detailed structural analysis made it possible to postulate that this effect is related to an inhomogeneous distribution of Eu 3+ ions within the smaller crystallites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectroscopic properties of Lu 2 O 3 :Tb pellets sintered at 1000 C or 1700 C were investigated. The sintering temperature did not influence the optically excited emission and excitation spectra of the materials. However, the treatment temperature did influence the emission under cathode-rays stimulation. While the specimens sintered at 1000 C showed only luminescent lines above 480 nm resulting from a radiative relaxation of the 5 D 4 level, the samples heated at 1700 C did show some luminescence in the blue region resulting from 5 D 3 → 7 F J emission. The blue emission could be recorded exclusively upon cathode-rays irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is dedicated to the preparation and characterization of the radio-, thermo-, and photoluminescent properties of Lu2O3:Eu and Lu2O3:Tb nanopowder (NPs) scintillators, prepared by means of hydrothermal processing, and their film analogues made of these NPs by the spin coating method. The luminescent properties of NPs and films were characterized by cathodoluminescence (CL), photoluminescence (PL), X-ray excited radioluminescence (RL), and thermoluminescence (TL) at low and high temperatures. In Lu2O3:Eu NPs and films, mostly the luminescence of Eu3+ ions occupying the C2 site of the host, with the most intensive peaks at 611.6 nm and a decay time of 1.5 ms, was observed. On the contrary, two types of Tb3+ centers in the C2 and C3i sites with the main emission lines at 542.4 and 544.0 nm and the corresponding 4f→5d excitation bands at 270 and 305 nm and decay times of t1/e = 2.17 and 3.96 ms were observed in the case of Lu2O3:Tb NPs and films. Indications were noted that Tb3+ in the C3i symmetry position was most active in the CL spectra of Lu2O3:Tb NPs and a respective film. Thermoluminescent peaks at 110 °C and 170 °C for Lu2O3:Eu NPs and at 75 °C and 120 °C in Lu2O3:Tb NPs were observed corresponding to the hole and electron traps, respectively. Significantly different onsets of temperature quenching of Eu3+ and Tb3+ luminescence in Lu2O3:Eu and Lu2O3:Tb NPs were found at ~90 °C and ~320 °C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study concerned with the current work is to provide a comparative investigation of the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of Lu2O3:Eu phosphor screens, prepared with different grain shape/size grains, specifically spherical grains, with sizes 50 nm, 200 nm, and 5 µm and two screens with rod-like shape grains and sizes 500 nm and 1-8 µm. The phosphors were deposited by the sedimentation method. It was found that the influence of the grains shape on image quality is more important than the grain size. The rod-like grains show higher noise levels, at low frequencies. The influence of grains size, between 50 nm, 200 nm, and 5 µm, is negligible on the normalize noise power spectrum (NNPS) at higher spatial frequencies due to structural non-uniformities. The spherical grains exhibited higher DQE values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) was applied to investigate the donor distribution in SrTiO3 single crystals. On the surfaces of Nb- and La-doped SrTiO3, structures with different fluorescence intensities and lifetimes were found that could be related to different concentrations of Ti3+. Furthermore, the inhomogeneous distribution of donors caused a non-uniform conductivity of the surface, which complicates the production of potential electronic devices by the deposition of oxide thin films on top of doped single crystals. Hence, we propose FLIM as a convenient technique (length scale: 1 μm) for characterizing the quality of doped oxide surfaces, which could help to identify appropriate substrate materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]