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In this paper, we consider a plate viscoelastic p(x)–Kirchhoff type equation with variable-exponent nonlinearities of the form associated with initial and boundary feedback. Under appropriate conditions on p(·), m(·) and q(·), general decay result along the solution energy is proved. By introducing a suitable auxiliary function, it is also shown that regarding negative initial energy and a suitable range of variable exponents, solutions blow up in a finite time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we aim to understand the characteristics of dynamical behaviour for a higher order Kirchhoff type systems with logarithmic nonlinearities. Based on the potential well method, the main ingredient of this study is to construct several conditions for initial data leading to the solution global existence in case of E (0) < d. On the other hand, we proved that if the solution lies in a smaller set compared with the stable set, we can estimate the decay rate of energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to develop a methodology in which Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Ellipsometer (EM) and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) will be used together for detection of single-strand oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) targets. A selected target-ssODNs, and its complementary, the probe-ssODNs carrying a -SH end group, a spacer arm (HS-(CH2)6–(T)15, and a non-complementary ssODNs were used. Silicone based stamps with 16 regions were prepared and used for micro-contact printing (µCP) of the probe-ssODNs on the gold coated surfaces homogeneously. A modulator-spacer molecule (6-mercapto-1-hexanol) was co-immobilized to control surface probe density, to orientate the probe-ssODNs, and to eliminate the nonspecific interactions. SPR was used successfully to follow the hybridization of the target-ssODNs with the immobilized probe-ssODNs on the platform surfaces. Complete hybridizations were achieved in 100 min. It was obtained that there was a linear relationship between relative change in delta and target concentration below 1 µm. Using imaging version of ellipsometer (IEM) allowed imaging of the surfaces and supported extra datum for the SPR results. After a very simple dehybridization protocol, MALDI-MS analysis allowed detection of the target-ssODNs hybridized on the sensor/array platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repair of cranial bone defects is an important problem in the clinical area. The use of scaffolds combined with stem cells has become a focus in the reconstruction of critical-sized bone defects. Electrospinning became a very attracting method in the preparation of tissue engineering scaffolds in the last decade, due to the unique nanofibrous structure of the electrospun matrices. However, they have a limitation for three dimensional (3D) applications, due to their two-dimensional structure and pore size which is smaller than a cellular diameter which cannot allow cell migration within the structure. In this study, electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) membranes were spirally wounded to prepare 3D matrices composed of nanofibers and macrochannels. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells were injected inside the scaffolds after the constructs were implanted in the cranial bone defects in rats. New bone formation, vascularisation and intramembranous ossification of the critical size calvarial defect were accelerated by using mesenchymal stem cells combined 3D spiral-wounded electrospun matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NIPA and HEMA-lactate-Dextran-based biodegradable and thermoresponsive cryogels were synthesized at different compositions by cryogelation. Chemical and morphological properties of the HEMA-lactate-Dextran-co-NIPA cryogel matrices were demonstrated by FTIR, SEM, and ESEM. Thermoresponsivity of the prepared cryogels was investigated by DSC, imaging NMR, and swelling studies. For possible use of the cryogels in potential bone tissue engineering applications, either hydrophobic simvastatin was embedded, or hydrophilic simvastatin was incorporated in the cryogels. Release profiles of simvastatin delivering cryogel scaffolds depending on their composition, hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of loaded simvastatin and the medium temperature were demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to prepare nonwoven fabrics carrying silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and to investigate their antibacterial activities and cytotoxicities in parallel. AgNPs were impregnated from their nanoemulsions onto two commercially available nonwoven fabrics: pure-cotton fabrics (PCF) and polyester/viscous fabrics (PVF), by a simple adsorption (dipping) and were then heat stabilized. PCF exhibited stronger antibacterial effects on both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In-vitro cell culture studies demonstrated that AgNPs nanoemulsions and also fabrics carrying them were cytotoxic on L929-fibroblasts in all concentrations used here (6.25-400 ppm) in different extends. Only the fabrics loaded with AgNPs using nanoemulsion with the lowest concentration of 6.25 ppm exhibited low cytotoxicity but were still antibacterial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HEMA-Lactate-Dextran cryogel scaffolds were produced by cryogelation. Mesencyhmal stem cells (MSC) were isolated from rat bone marrow. Critical sized cranial bone defects were created in rat cranium. Stem cells were injected inside the macropores of the cryogel scaffolds prepared from HEMA-Lactate-Dextran possessing the same dimensions with the defect and placed in the cranial bone. The cryogels placed in the defect without stem cells served as control. After selected time intervals the experimental sites were removed from the animals and new bone formation and tissue integration were investigated by histological analysis. The in vivo results exhibited osseous tissue integration within the implant and mineralized functionally stable bone restoration of the cranial defects. Tissue formation started in the macrospores of the scaffold starting from periphery to the center. A significant ingrowth of connective tissue cells and new blood vessels allowed new bone formation. Histological data demonstrated that new bone per total defect area ratio, were not significantly different in 'scaffold-stem cells' group compared to that of 'scaffold only' group on all time points. However, the blood vessel density was significantly higher in 'scaffold-stem cells' group comparing to that of the 'scaffold only' group on day 30. 'Scaffold-stem cells' given group gave better tissue response score when compared to 'scaffold only' group on day 180. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary smooth muscle cells (SMC) isolated from the aorta of fetal calf were transfected with a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-encoding plasmid DNA, which was carried by a water-soluble and temperature-sensitive N-isopropylacrylamide-based (NIPAAm-based)-co-polymer, either poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-methacryloamidohistidine) (poly(NIPAAm-co-MAH)) or monosized PEGylated nanoparticle poly(styrene/poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate/N-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl) methacrylamide) (poly(St/PEG-EEM/DMAPM)). Poly(NIPAAm-co-MAH) co-polymer was synthesized by solution polymerization of n-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and 2-methacrylamidohistidine (MAH). Monosized cationic nanoparticles were produced by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of styrene, PEG ethyl ether methacrylate and N-[3-(dimethyl-amino) propyl] methacrylamide, in the presence of a cationic initiator, 2,2-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride. The structure of poly(St/PEG-EEM/DMAPM) and poly(NIPAAm-co-MAH) was confirmed by1 H-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. Particle size/size distribution and surface charges of both carriers were measured by Zeta Sizer. The LCST behavior of poly(NIPAAm-co-MAH) co-polymer was followed spectrophotometrically. Poly(St/PEG-EEM/DMAPM) nanoparticles, with an average size of 78 nm and zeta potential of 54.4 mV, and an average size of 200 nm with a zeta potential of 54.2 mV, and poly(NIPAAm-co-MAH) were used in the transfection studies. The cytotoxicity of the vectors was tested using the MTT method. According to conditions for the transfection study (polymer/cell ratio and polymer-cell incubation period), cell loss was only 4 and 15% with poly(St/PEG-EEM/DMAPM) sized 78 and 200 nm, respectively. Poly(NIPAAm-co-MAH) cytotoxicity was insignificant. Poly(NIPAAm-co-MAH) uptake efficiency in SMCs was around 85%, but gene expression efficiency were low compared to poly(St/PEG-EEM/DMAPM)/pEGFP-N2 conjugates because of the low zeta potential of the co-polymer. Polymer uptake efficiencies of the nanoparticles were 90-95%. GFP expression efficiency was 68 and 64% after transfection with pEGFP-N2 conjugate with 78 and 200 nm sized poly(St/PEG-EEM/DMAPM) nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“Atomic Force Microscope” (AFM) tips (cantilevers) carrying a pseudo-specific ligand, i.e., histidine were prepared and investigated for detection of Human Immunoglobulin-G (HIgG) in aqueous media. The AFM tips (cantilevers) were first treated with HNO3 and silanized to create amino groups; then glutaraldehyde (GA) was bonded via these surface amino groups; and finally, histidine molecules were immobilized by reaction of the amino groups of histidine with the free aldehyde groups of GA. Optimal immobilization conditions were described. Immobilizations were observed both by optical and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Interactions between the histidine carrying AFM tips (cantilevers) and the aqueous medium containing HIgG with different concentrations were quantified by “the separation distance” measured with the AFM system as the main variable. A quite nice linear correlation between the HIgG concentration and the separation distance was measured with AFM system. Interactions were also followed by an alternative “Modified Lowry” method, in which similar behavior was observed. We were able to measure HIgG concentration in aqueous media down to 0.055 pmol/μ l (8mg/dl) concentration with this AFM based novel immunosensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate-L-lactate (1HEMA-LLA) and HEMA-L-lactate-dextran (HEMA-LLA-D) were synthesized. H-NMR confirmed the formation of these oligomers and macromers. Cryogels with different pore structures were prepared using different amounts of HEMA, HEMA-LLA and HEMA-LLA-D by a cryogelation technique. SEM micrographs exhibited pore morphologies. Cryogels were highly porous with interconnected pore structures, opaque, spongy and highly elastic. It was possible to compress them to remove the water in the pores and to return to their original form just by immersing them in water in few minutes, which was quite reproducible. Their swelling abilities, compressive strengths and degradation in buffer solutions were found to be related with their structural properties which was controlled by changing the cryogelation recipe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and 2-methacryloylamidohistidine (MAH) with different MAH contents in the range of 0.125–0.725 mmol/g copolymer and with different molecular weights in the range of 62.0–77.5 kg/mol were synthesized by free radical copolymerization. Copolymers were interacted with human immunoglobulin-G (HIgG) in the aqueous medium with different concentrations. FT-IR and NMR data revealed both copolymer and copolymer–HIgG conjugates. The decrease in the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the copolymer observed was related with the increase in the HIgG content within the medium. The main goal of this study was imaging poly(NIPA-co-MAH)-HIgG conjugates using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM), which is one of the widely used methods with the capability of atomic level imaging for biological molecules. STM images of the copolymer, HIgG and copolymer–HIgG conjugates were taken at room temperature at atmospheric pressure, using a 1–1.5 V sample bias and a tunneling current of 10–20 pA, which clearly demonstrated the formation of conjugates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-methacryloly-(L)-histidinemethylester (MAH) as a pseudospecific ligand was synthesized by using methacryloyl chloride and histidine. Spherical beads with an average size of 63-75 μm were obtained by suspension polymerization of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and MAH conducted in an aqueous dispersion medium. The specific surface area of the beads was found to be 18.3 m[sup 2]/g. Poly(EGDMA-HEMA-MAH) beads were used in the separation of immunoglobulin-G (HIgG) from aqueous solutions and/or human plasma in a packed-bed column system. HIgG adsorption capacity of the beads decreased with an increase in the flow-rate of plasma. The maximum HIgG adsorption on the poly(EGDMA-HEMA-MAH) sorbents was observed at pH 7.4. HIgG adsorption onto the poly(EGDMA-HEMA) sorbents was negligible. Higher adsorption values (up to 135 mg/g) were obtained when the poly(EGDMA-HEMA-MAH) sorbents were used from aqueous solutions. HIgG adsorption increased with decreasing temperature and the maximum adsorption achieved at 4°C. MAH incorporation significantly affected HIgG adsorption capacity (135 mg/g). Higher amounts of HIgG were adsorbed from human plasma (up to 165 mg/g). Adsorption capacities of other blood proteins were obtained as 8.7 mg/g for fibrinogen and 14.6 mg/g for albumin. The total protein adsorption was determined as 191 mg/g. The pseudospecific affinity beads allowed one-step separation of HIgG from human plasma. HIgG molecules could be repeatedly adsorbed and desorbed with these sorbents without noticeable loss in their HIgG adsorption capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of D,Llactide. Non-woven PDLLA matrices were prepared by an extrusion/winding process. The process conditions were optimized and the surfaces of these matrices were modified by glow-discharge treatment and/or glutaraldehyde incorporation for immobilization of elastin-derived proteins (ESP) to the matrix to increase the biocompatibility and also to improve the bioactivity of the matrix. Glow-discharge conditions were optimized. Ethylene diamine (EDA) and Ar were used as the active monomers in the plasma phase. When EDA was used, the glow-discharge treated PDLLA matrices were first allowed to be reacted with glutaraldehyde, although, when Ar used, the treated matrices were used directly for ESP immobilization. The higher degree of immobilization was obtained for EDA and glutaraldehyde. The ESP-incorporated PDLLA matrices were further treated with elastin by cross-reaction of the ESP molecules on the matrix surfaces with elastin. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies showed that ESP were homogeneously deposited the surface of the matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]