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The method to decrease of the porosity (densification) of crystalline spherical particles of the solid substitution solution, obtained by the method of precipitation from aqueous solution followed by low temperature crystallization of the amorphous intermediate product was proposed. The comparative analysis of morphology and structure of the particles before and after densification have been carried. It has been established that porosity of (Y1-xEux)2O3 particles has decreased 5 times compared to their initial state. It has been shown that densification process of the (Y1-xEux)2O3 spherical particles changes their morphology and structure: the size of the crystals doubles, the number and area of crystalline boundaries decrease, the intercrystalline spaces, which forming pores, are almost absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bimetallic silver–gold nanoparticles were prepared by co-reduction using citrate and tannic acid in aqueous solution and colloidally stabilized with poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The full composition range of silver : gold from 0 : 100 to 100 : 0 (n : n) was prepared with steps of 10 mol%. The nanoparticles were spherical, monodispersed, and had a diameter of ∼6 nm, except for Ag : Au 90 : 10 nanoparticles and pure Ag nanoparticles which were slightly larger. The size of the nanoalloys was determined by differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) together with Rietveld refinement, precise lattice parameters, crystallite size and microstrain were determined. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) showed that the particles consisted of a gold-rich core and a silver-rich shell. XRD and DCS indicated that the nanoparticles were not twinned, except for pure Ag and Ag : Au 90 : 10, although different domains were visible in the TEM. A remarkable negative deviation from Vegard's linear rule of alloy mixtures was observed (isotropic contraction of the cubic unit cell with a minimum at a 50 : 50 composition). This effect was also found for Ag:Au bulk alloys, but it was much more pronounced for the nanoalloys. Notably, it was much less pronounced for pure silver and gold nanoparticles. The microstrain was increased along with the contraction of the unit cell with a broad maximum at a 50 : 50 composition. The synthesis is based on aqueous solvents and can be easily scaled up to a yield of several mg of a well dispersed nanoalloy with application potential due to its tuneable antibacterial action (silver) and its optical properties for bioimaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and morphology of monodisperse spherical particles of (YEu)O solid solutions prepared through the low-temperature thermolysis of an amorphous precursor under isothermal conditions ( t = 800°C) have been analyzed in detail in relation to the particle size and composition. The results demonstrate that, in addition to having a polycrystalline (block) structure, the spherical (YEu)O particles are porous, with a mesoscopic residual pore size. Reducing the diameter of the spherical particles from 400 to 70 nm reduces their porosity and improves their structural perfection. The addition of Eu cations stimulates the growth of crystalline blocks that form a spherical particle, activating diffusion processes in the cation sublattice of the solid solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper features the construction, operation and research on high-temperature electrical insulation at working temperatures up to 2000 ºC. Investigations were carried out on the existing MH- generator using a specifically developed insulation module and device for continuous measurement and recording of the resistance and dielectric strength of the insulation under AC current. The studies were conducted using an alternating current in order to reduce the influence of high temperature dielectric polarization on the measurements. The resistance value of the electrical insulation of the electrodes relative to the grounded housing of the MGDG channel and interelectrode insulation resistance pattern during changing operating regimes of MGDG were investigated in the area of the flow of the combustion products at temperatures up to 3000 ºC. It was established that the resistance of the interelectrode insulation is determined by its surface resistance. The magnitude of the surface resistance depends on the type of the gas atmosphere in the channel such that the oxidative environment increases the surface resistance and reducing environment decreases it. Under the same temperature conditions the range of changes in the resistance of the interelectrode insulation in the channel was 3-4 orders of magnitude lower than the resistivity of the dielectric (MgO) in pure oxidizing atmosphere of the research apparatus. At temperatures above ~1300 ºC surface resistance is increasingly determined by the properties of the dielectric. References 12, figures 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Materialwissenschaft und Werkstoffechnik is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Fe–Al–Nb phase diagram including isothermal sections at 1000, 1150, and 1300 °C as well as the liquidus surface and corresponding reaction scheme was studied experimentally by a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). No genuinely ternary intermetallic phase exists in the system, but the two Fe–Nb phases NbFe 2 (C14-type Laves phase) and Fe 7 Nb 6 (μ phase) have extended homogeneity ranges in the ternary system, where large amounts of Fe can be substituted by Al in both cases. The solubility of the third element was studied for all binary phases and the effect on the lattice parameters is discussed. From analysis of the as-cast microstructures and DTA experiments, the liquidus surface including all invariant reactions as well as the occurring solid state reactions were established. Three ternary eutectics, one eutectoid, and two peritectic reactions were found, and the list of invariant points is completed by seven U-type reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface properties of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) membranes were modified using oxygen and an ammonia radio-frequency (RF, 13.56 MHz) plasma. The plasma treatment procedures used in the study only affected the surface properties, including surface topography, without inducing any significant changes in the crystalline structure of the polymer, with the exception being a power level of 250 W. The wettability of the modified P3HB surfaces was significantly increased after the plasma treatment, irrespective of the treatment procedure used. It was revealed that both surface chemistry and surface roughness changes caused by the plasma treatment affected surface wettability. A treatment-induced surface aging effect was observed and resulted in an increase in the water contact angle and a decrease in the surface free energy. However, the difference in the water contact angle between the polymers that had been treated for 4 weeks and the untreated polymer surfaces was still significant. A dependence between cell adhesion and proliferation and the polar component of the surface energy was revealed. The increase in the polar component after the ammonia plasma modification significantly increased cell adhesion and proliferation on biodegradable polymer surfaces compared to the untreated P3HB and the P3HB modified using an oxygen plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a measure of the prevention of implant associated infections, a number of strategies have been recently applied. Silver-containing materials possessing antibacterial activity as expected might have wide applications in orthopedics and dentistry. The present work focuses on the physico-chemical characterization of silver-containing hydroxyapatite (Ag-HA) coating obtained by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. Mechanochemically synthesized Ag-HA powder (Ca 10− x Ag x (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2− x , x = 1.5) was used as a precursor for sputtering target preparation. Morphology, composition, crystallinity, physico-mechanical features (Young's modulus and nanohardness) of the deposited Ag-HA coatings were investigated. The sputtering of the nanostructured multicomponent target at the applied process conditions allowed to deposit crystalline Ag-HA coating which was confirmed by XRD and FTIR data. The SEM results revealed the formation of the coating with the grain morphology and columnar cross-section structure. The EDX analysis confirmed that Ag-HA coating contained Ca, P, O and Ag with the Ca/P ratio of 1.6 ± 0.1. The evolution of the mechanical properties allowed to conclude that addition of silver to HA film caused increase of the coating nanohardness and elastic modulus compared with those of pure HA thin films deposited under the same deposition conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduced a new class of gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) with adjustable pore morphology. We fabricated intrinsically conductive polymer-composite membranes containing carbon filler, enabling a pore structure variation through film casting cum phase separation protocols. We further selectively functionalized specific pore regions of the membranes with Cu by a NaBH4-facilitated coating strategy. The as-obtained GDEs can facilitate the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) at Cu active sites that are presented inside a defined and electrically conductive pore system. When employing them as free-standing cathodes in a CO2 flow electrolyzer, we achieved >70% Faradaic efficiencies for CO2RR products at up to 200 mA/cm2. We further demonstrated that deposition of a dense Cu layer on top of the membrane leads to obstruction of the underlying pore openings, inhibiting an excessive wetting of the pore pathways that transport gaseous CO2. However, the presentation of Cu inside the pore system of our novel membrane electrodes increased the C2H4/CO selectivity by a factor of up to 3 compared to Cu presented in the dense layer on top of the membrane. Additionally, we found that gaseous CO2 could still access Cu in macropores after wetting with electrolyte, while CO2RR was completely suppressed in wetted nm-scale pores., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Ultrasmall nanoparticles (diameter 2 nm) of silver, platinum, and bimetallic nanoparticles (molar ratio of Ag:Pt 0:100; 20:80; 50:50; 70:30; 100:0), stabilized by the thiolated ligand glutathione, were prepared and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, differential centrifugal sedimentation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray powder diffraction, and NMR spectroscopy in aqueous dispersion. Gold nanoparticles of the same size were prepared as control. The particles were fluorescently labeled by conjugation of the dye AlexaFluor-647 via copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition after converting amine groups of glutathione into azide groups. All nanoparticles were well taken up by HeLa cells. The cytotoxicity was assessed with an MTT test on HeLa cells and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests on the bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus xylosus . Notably, bimetallic AgPt nanoparticles had a higher cytotoxicity against cells and bacteria than monometallic silver nanoparticles or a physical mixture of silver and platinum nanoparticles. However, the measured release of silver ions from monometallic and bimetallic silver nanoparticles in water was very low despite the ultrasmall size and the associated high specific surface area. This is probably due to the surface protection by a dense layer of thiolated ligand glutathione. Thus, the enhanced cytotoxicity of bimetallic AgPt nanoparticles is caused by the biological environment in cell culture media, together with a polarization of silver by platinum.

: In this contribution we report on a novel approach towards luminescent light-responsive ligands. To this end, cyanostilbene- guanidiniocarbonyl-pyrrole hybrids were designed and investigated. Merging of a luminophore with a supramolecular bioactive ligand bears numerous advantages by overcoming the typical drawbacks of drug-labelling, influencing the overall performance of the active species by attachment of a large luminophore. Here we were able to establish a simple and easily accessible synthesis route to different cyanostyryl-guanidininiocarbonyl-pyrrole (CGCP) derivatives. These compounds were investigated regarding their light-responsive double bond isomerisation, their molecular structures in single crystals by means of X-ray diffractometry, their emission properties by state of the art photophysical characterisation as well as bioimaging and assessment of cell toxicity., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Among brain tumors, glioblastoma (GBM) is very challenging to treat as chemotherapeutic drugs can only penetrate the brain to a limited extent due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Nanoparticles can be an attractive solution for the treatment of GBM as they can transport drugs across the BBB into the tumor. In this study, normal and GBM organoids comprising six brain cell types were developed and applied to study the uptake, BBB penetration, distribution, and efficacy of fluorescent, ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (AuTio-Dox-AF647s) conjugated with doxorubicin (Dox) and AlexaFluor-647-cadaverine (AF647) by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), using a mixture of dissolved doxorubicin and fluorescent AF647 molecules as a control. It was shown that the nanoparticles could easily penetrate the BBB and were found in normal and GBM organoids, while the dissolved Dox and AF647 molecules alone were unable to penetrate the BBB. Flow cytometry showed a reduction in glioblastoma cells after treatment with AuTio-Dox nanoparticles, as well as a higher uptake of these nanoparticles by GBM cells in the GBM model compared to astrocytes in the normal cell organoids. In summary, our results show that ultrasmall gold nanoparticles can serve as suitable carriers for the delivery of drugs into organoids to study BBB function.

Ultrasmall gold nanoparticles were functionalized with peptides of two to seven amino acids that contained one cysteine molecule as anchor via a thiol-gold bond and a number of alanine residues as nonbinding amino acid. The cysteine was located either in the center of the molecule or at the end (C-terminus). For comparison, gold nanoparticles were also functionalized with cysteine alone. The particles were characterized by UV spectroscopy, differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). This confirmed the uniform metal core (2 nm diameter). The hydrodynamic diameter was probed by 1 H-DOSY NMR spectroscopy and showed an increase in thickness of the hydrated peptide layer with increasing peptide size (up to 1.4 nm for heptapeptides; 0.20 nm per amino acid in the peptide). 1 H NMR spectroscopy of water-dispersed nanoparticles showed the integrity of the peptides and the effect of the metal core on the peptide. Notably, the NMR signals were very broad near the metal surface and became increasingly narrow in a distance. In particular, the methyl groups of alanine can be used as probe for the resolution of the NMR spectra. The number of peptide ligands on each nanoparticle was determined using quantitative 1 H NMR spectroscopy. It decreased with increasing peptide length from about 100 for a dipeptide to about 12 for a heptapeptide, resulting in an increase of the molecular footprint from about 0.1 to 1.1 nm 2 .

We developed a novel method to fabricate copper nanorods in situ in a poly(ether sulfone) (15 wt %) casting solution by a sonochemical reduction of Cu 2+ ions with NaBH 4 . The main twist is the addition of ethanol to remove excess NaBH 4 through Cu(0) catalyzed ethanolysis. This enabled the direct use of the resulting copper-containing casting dispersions for membrane preparation by liquid nonsolvent-induced phase separation and led to full utilization of the copper source, generating zero metal waste. We characterized the copper nanorods as presented in the membranes via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV/vis spectroscopy. We could demonstrate that the rapid immobilization from reducing conditions led to the membrane incorporation of copper nanorods in a state of high reactivity, which also promoted the complete oxidation to CuO after fabrication. We further observed a large aspect ratio and crystal straining of the nanorods, likely resulting from growth around the matrix polymer. The entanglement with poly(ether sulfone) further facilitated a selective presentation at the pore surface of the final CuO-decorated membranes. The membranes also exhibit high water permeances of up to 2800 L/m 2 hbar. Our catalytic membranes achieved exceptionally high activities in the aqueous flow-through reduction of p -nitrophenol ( p -NP), with turnover frequencies of up to 115 h -1 , even surpassing those of other state-of-the-art catalytic membranes that incorporate Pd or Ag. Additionally, we demonstrated that catalytic hydrolysis of the reducing agent in water can lead to hydrogen gas formation and blocking of active sites during continuous catalytic p -NP hydrogenation. We illustrated that the accompanying conversion loss can be mitigated by facilitated gas transport in the water-filled pores, which is dependent on the orientation of the pore size gradient and the flow direction.

Introduction: During tissue repair or regeneration, several bioactive molecules are released and interact with each other and act as complex additives or inhibitors for tissue reconstruction. In this study, the bone-healing effects of the combination treatment with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibition, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) release by gene silencing, and gene transfection with calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP) in the rat femoral head was histologically, morphologically, and biochemically evaluated., Methods: A triple-functionalized paste of CaP carrying plasmid DNA encoding for BMP-7 and for VEGF), and siRNA against TNF-α was developed and denoted as CaP3mix. To compare the effects of 3mixCaP, CaP with plasmid DNA encoding BMP-7, VEGF, or siRNA encoding TNF-α was prepared and denoted as CaP/PEI/pBMP-7/SiO 2 , CaP/PEI/pVEGF/SiO 2 , or CaP/PEI/siRNA-TNF-α/SiO 2 , respectively. The bone healing in bone defects in the rat femoral head was investigated after 10 and 21 days of implantation., Results: The levels of bone formation-related markers OCN, Runx2, and SP7 increased at the protein and gene levels in 3mixCaP after 10 days, and 3mixCaP significantly accelerated bone healing compared with the other treatments after 21 days of implantation., Conclusion: The triple-functionalized CaP paste loading plasmid DNA encoding BMP-7 and VEGF and siRNA encoding TNF-α is a promising bioactive material for bone tissue repair., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.)

Alloyed ultrasmall silver-platinum nanoparticles (molar ratio Ag:Pt = 50:50) were prepared and compared to pure silver, platinum, and gold nanoparticles, all with a metallic core diameter of 2 nm. They were surface-stabilized by a layer of glutathione (GSH). A comprehensive characterization by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction (ED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS), and UV spectroscopy showed their size both in the dry and in the water-dispersed state (hydrodynamic diameter). Solution NMR spectroscopy ( 1 H, 13 C, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and DOSY) showed the nature of the glutathione shell including the number of GSH ligands on each nanoparticle (about 200 with a molecular footprint of 0.063 nm 2 each). It furthermore showed that there are at least two different positions for the GSH ligand on the gold nanoparticle surface. Platinum strongly reduced the resolution of the NMR spectra compared to silver and gold, also in the alloyed nanoparticles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that silver, platinum, and silver-platinum particles were at least partially oxidized to Ag(+I) and Pt(+II), whereas the gold nanoparticles showed no sign of oxidation. Platinum and gold nanoparticles were well crystalline but twinned (fcc lattice) despite the small particle size. Silver was crystalline in electron diffraction but not in X-ray diffraction. Alloyed silver-platinum nanoparticles were almost fully amorphous by both methods, indicating a considerable internal disorder.

Six types of titanium dioxide particles with defined size, shape, and crystal structure (polymorphic form) were prepared: nanorods (70 × 25 nm 2 ), rutile sub-microrods (190 × 40 nm 2 ), rutile microspheres (620 nm), anatase nanospheres (100 nm), anatase microspheres (510 nm), and amorphous titania microspheres (620 nm). All particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, dynamic light scattering, infrared spectroscopy, and UV spectroscopy. The sub-toxic cell-biological response to these particles by NR8383 macrophages was assessed. All particle types were taken up well by the cells. The cytotoxicity and the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were negligible for all particles up to a dose of 100 µg mL -1 , except for rutile microspheres which had a very rough surface in contrast to anatase and amorphous titania microspheres. The particle-induced cell migration assay (PICMA; based on chemotaxis) of all titanium dioxide particles was comparable to the effect of control silica nanoparticles (50 nm, uncoated, agglomerated) but did not show a trend with respect to particle size, shape, or crystal structure. The coating with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) had no significant biological effect. However, the rough surface of rutile microspheres clearly induced pro-inflammatory cell reactions that were not predictable by the primary particle size alone.

A series of emissive liquid crystalline materials based on salicylidene derivatives is reported and investigated with respect to their thermoresponsive and mechanochromic properties. Single-crystal analysis and temperature-dependent powder X-ray diffraction measurements allowed us to correlate the intermolecular organization of the mesogens with thermoresponsive changes in the fluorescence behavior. As a proof-of-principle study, we employed the dynamics of the imine bond in transamination reactions for postsynthetic tuning of the fluorescence behavior as a further step toward the development of adaptive materials.

Ultrasmall nanoparticles of platinum group metal oxides (core diameter of about 1.8 nm) were prepared by alkaline hydrolysis of metal precursors in the presence of NaBH 4 and by colloidal stabilization with tripeptide glutathione. We obtained water-dispersed nanoparticles of Rh 2 O 3 , PdO, RuO 2 , IrO 2 , Os/OsO 2 , and Pt/PtO. Their size was probed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, differential centrifugal sedimentation, small-angle X-ray scattering, and diffusion-ordered 1 H NMR spectroscopy ( 1 H DOSY). Their oxidation state was clearly determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and electron diffraction. The chemical composition of the nanoparticles, that is, the ratio of the metal oxide core and glutathione capping agent, was quantitatively determined by a combination of these methods.

The colloidal stability, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake of hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ) nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated in vitro to assess safety and efficacy for use as a deliverable theranostic in nanomedicine. Monoclinic HfO 2 NPs, ~60-90 nm in diameter and ellipsoidal in shape, were directly prepared without calcination by a hydrothermal synthesis at 83% yield. The as-prepared, bare HfO 2 NPs exhibited colloidal stability in cell culture media for at least 10 days without significant agglomeration or settling. The viability (live/dead assay) of human epithelial cells (HeLa) and monocyte-derived macrophages (THP-1) did not fall below 95% of untreated cells after up to 24 h exposure to HfO 2 NPs at concentrations up to 0.80 mg/ml. Similarly, the mitochondrial activity (MTT assay) of HeLa and THP-1 cells did not fall below 80% of untreated cells after up to 24 h exposure to HfO 2 NPs at concentrations up to 0.40 mg/ml. Cellular uptake was confirmed and visualized in both HeLa and THP-1 cells by fluorescence microscopy of HfO 2 NPs labeled with Cy5 and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of bare HfO 2 NPs. TEM micrographs provided direct observation of macropinocytosis and endosomal compartmentalization within 4 h of exposure. Thus, the HfO 2 NPs in this study exhibited colloidal stability, cytocompatibility, and cellular uptake for potential use as a deliverable theranostic in nanomedicine., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Ultrasmall silver nanoparticles were prepared by reduction with NaBH 4 and surface-terminated with glutathione (GSH). The particles had a solid core diameter of 2 nm as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). NMR-DOSY gave a hydrodynamic diameter of 2 to 2.8 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that silver is bound to the thiol group of the central cysteine in glutathione under partial oxidation to silver(+I). In turn, the thiol group is deprotonated to thiolate. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) together with Rietveld refinement confirmed a twinned (polycrystalline) fcc structure of ultrasmall silver nanoparticles with a lattice compression of about 0.9% compared to bulk silver metal. By NMR spectroscopy, the interaction between the glutathione ligand and the silver surface was analyzed, also with 13 C-labeled glutathione. The adsorbed glutathione is fully intact and binds to the silver surface via cysteine. In situ 1 H NMR spectroscopy up to 85 °C in dispersion showed that the glutathione ligand did not detach from the surface of the silver nanoparticle, i.e. the silver-sulfur bond is remarkably strong. The ultrasmall nanoparticles had a higher cytotoxicity than bigger particles in in vitro cell culture with HeLa cells with a cytotoxic concentration of about 1 μg mL -1 after 24 h incubation. The overall stoichiometry of the nanoparticles was about Ag ∼250 GSH ∼155 .

Silica fibers with a dimension of 0.3 μm ∙ 3.2 μm 2  nm were prepared by a modified Stöber synthesis as model particles. The particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetry and X-ray powder diffraction. Their uptake by macrophages (THP-1 cells and NR8383 cells) was studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The uptake by cells was very high, but the silica fibers were not harmful to NR8383 cells in concentrations up to 100 μg mL -1 . Only above 100 μg mL -1 , significant cell toxic effects were observed, probably induced by a high dose of particles that had sedimented on the cells and led to the adverse effects. The chemotactic response as assessed by the particle-induced migration assay (PICMA) was weak in comparison to a control of agglomerated silica particles. The as-prepared fibers were fully X-ray amorphous but crystallized to β-cristobalite after heating to 1000 °C and converted to α-cristobalite upon cooling to ambient temperature. The fibers had sintered to larger aggregates but retained their elongated primary shape. The particle cytotoxicity towards THP-1 cells was not significantly enhanced by the crystallization., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Porous zirconia (ZrO 2 ), magnesia (MgO) and zirconia/magnesia (ZrO 2 /MgO) ceramics were synthesised by sintering and designated as ZrO 2 (100), ZrO 2 (75)MgO(25), ZrO 2 (50)MgO(50), ZrO 2 (25)MgO(75), MgO(100) based on their composition. The ceramic samples were characterised by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectrometry to explore the incorporation of Mg atoms into the zirconia lattice. The resulting porosity of the samples was calculated based on the composition and density. The final porosity of the cylinder-shaped ceramic samples ranged between 30 and 37%. The mechanical analysis exhibited that the Young modulus increased and the microstress decreased with increasing magnesia amount, with values ranging from 175 GPa for zirconia to 301 GPa for magnesia. The adhesion, viability, proliferation and osteogenic activity of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cells cultured on the zirconia/magnesia ceramics was found to increase, with the magnesia-containing ceramics exhibiting higher values of calcium mineralisation. The results from the mechanical analysis, the ALP activity, the calcium and collagen production demonstrate that the zirconia/magnesia ceramics possess robust osteoinductive capacity, therefore holding great potential for bone tissue engineering.

Ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (diameter about 2 nm) were surface-functionalized with cysteine-carrying precision macromolecules. These consisted of sequence-defined oligo(amidoamine)s (OAAs) with either two or six cysteine molecules for binding to the gold surface and either with or without a PEG chain (3400 Da). They were characterized by 1 H NMR spectroscopy, 1 H NMR diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The number of precision macromolecules per nanoparticle was determined after fluorescent labeling by UV spectroscopy and also by quantitative 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Each nanoparticle carried between 40 and 100 OAA ligands, depending on the number of cysteine units per OAA. The footprint of each ligand was about 0.074 nm 2 per cysteine molecule. OAAs are well suited to stabilize ultrasmall gold nanoparticles by selective surface conjugation and can be used to selectively cover their surface. The presence of the PEG chain considerably increased the hydrodynamic diameter of both dissolved macromolecules and macromolecule-conjugated gold nanoparticles., (© 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective: Hybrid chitosan/gelatin/nanohydroxyapatite (CS/Gel/nHA) scaffolds have attracted considerable interest in tissue engineering (TE) of mineralized tissues. The present study aimed to investigate the potential of CS/Gel/nHA scaffolds loaded with dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) to induce odontogenic differentiation and in vitro biomineralization., Methods: CS/Gel/nHA scaffolds were synthesized by freeze-drying, seeded with DPSCs, and characterized with flow cytometry. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), live/dead staining, and MTT assays were used to evaluate cell morphology and viability; real-time PCR for odontogenesis-related gene expression analysis; SEM-EDS (Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), and X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD) for structural and chemical characterization of the mineralized constructs, respectively., Results: CS/Gel/nHA scaffolds supported viability and proliferation of DPSCs over 14 days in culture. Gene expression patterns indicated pronounced odontogenic shift of DPSCs, evidenced by upregulation of DSPP, BMP-2, ALP, and the transcription factors RunX2 and Osterix. SEM-EDS showed the production of a nanocrystalline mineralized matrix inside the cell-based and - to a lesser extent - the cell-free constructs, with a time-dependent production of net-like nanocrystals (appr. 25-30nm in diameter). XRD analysis gave the crystallite size (D=50nm) but could not distinguish between the initially incorporated and the biologically produced nHA., Significance: This is the first study validating the potential of CS/Gel/nHA scaffolds to support viability and proliferation of DPSCs, and to provide a biomimetic microenvironment favoring odontogenic differentiation and in vitro biomineralization without the addition of any inductive factors, including dexamethasone and/or growth/morphogenetic factors. These results reveal a promising strategy towards TE of mineralized dental tissues., (Copyright © 2020 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)