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The entire route from anodic oxidation and surface characterization, including in vitro experiments and finally in vivo osseointegration assays were performed with the aim to evaluate nanotubular and crystalline annealed titanium oxides as a suitable surface for grade 2 titanium permanent implants. Polished titanium (T0) was compared with anodized surfaces obtained in acidic media with fluoride, leading to an ordered nanotubular structure of titanium oxide on the metal surface, characterized by tube diameter of 89 ± 24 nm (Tnts). Samples were thermally treated in air (TntsTT) to increase the anatase crystalline phase on nanotubes, with minor alteration of the structure. Corrosion tests were performed to evaluate the electrochemical response after 1, 14, and 28 days of immersion in simulated body fluid. Based on the in vitro results, heat-treated titanium nanotubes (TntsTT) were selected as a promissory candidate to continue with the osseointegration in vivo assays. The in vivo results showed no major improvement in the osseointegration process when compared with untreated Ti after 30 days of implantation and there also was a lower increase in the development of new osseous tissue. Fil: Gomez Sanchez, Andrea Valeria. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentina Fil: Katunar, María R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina Fil: Pastore, Juan Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas en Electrónica. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas en Electrónica; Argentina Fil: Tano de la Hoz, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina Fil: Ceré, Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina

Background GabR is a transcriptional regulator belonging to the MocR/GabR family, characterized by a N-terminal wHTH DNA-binding domain and a C-terminal effector binding and/or oligomerization domain, structurally homologous to aminotransferases (ATs). In the presence of γ-aminobutyrate (GABA) and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), GabR activates the transcription of gabT and gabD genes involved in GABA metabolism. Methods Here we report a biochemical and atomic force microscopy characterization of Bacillus subtilis GabR in complex with DNA. Complexes were assembled in vitro to study their stoichiometry, stability and conformation. Results The fractional occupancy of the GabR cognate site suggests that GabR binds as a dimer with Kd of 10 nM. Upon binding GabR bends the DNA by 80° as measured by anomalous electrophoretic mobility. With GABA we observed a decrease in affinity and conformational rearrangements compatible with a less compact nucleo-protein complex but no changes of the DNA bending angle. By employing promoter and GabR mutants we found that basic residues of the positively charged groove on the surface of the AT domain affect DNA affinity. Conclusions The present data extend current understanding of the GabR-DNA interaction and the effect of GABA and PLP. A model for the GabR-DNA complex, corroborated by a docking simulation, is proposed. General Significance Characterization of the GabR DNA binding mode highlights the key role of DNA bending and interactions with bases outside the canonical direct repeats, and might be of general relevance for the action mechanism of MocR transcription factors.

Serine racemase (SR) catalyses two reactions: the reversible racemisation of L-serine and the irreversible dehydration of L- and D-serine to pyruvate and ammonia. SRs are evolutionarily related to serine dehydratases (SDH) and degradative threonine deaminases (TdcB). Most SRs and TdcBs – but not SDHs – are regulated by nucleotides. SR binds ATP cooperatively and the nucleotide allosterically stimulates the serine dehydratase activity of the enzyme. A H-bond network comprising five residues (T52, N86, Q89, E283 and N316) and water molecules connects the active site with the ATP-binding site. Conservation analysis points to Q89 as a key residue for the allosteric communication, since its mutation to either Met or Ala is linked to the loss of control of activity by nucleotides. We verified this hypothesis by introducing the Q89M and Q89A point mutations in the human SR sequence. The allosteric communication between the active site and the allosteric site in both mutants is almost completely abolished. Indeed, the stimulation of the dehydratase activity by ATP is severely diminished and the binding of the nucleotide is no more cooperative. Ancestral state reconstruction suggests that the allosteric control by nucleotides established early in SR evolution and has been maintained in most eukaryotic lineages.

The paper is focused on elaboration of ZrO2 films on pure zirconium via anodizing inphosphoric acid with and without fluoride at constant potentials of 30 V and 60 V. Thestructure and composition of the films were investigated using scanning electronicmicroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The composition ofthe oxides formed at both potentials can be identified as monoclinic ZrO2. In addition to Zrand O, the layers formed in phosphoric acid contain phosphorus originating from thephosphoric acid. When the phosphoric acid solution contains NaF, fluorine is alsoincorporated into the oxide layer. The oxides formed at a higher voltage have greaterroughness than those formed at 30 V. Anodized samples exhibit smaller current densitiesduring anodic polarization compared to the as-received zirconium covered with native oxide. Fil: Romonti, Daniela E.. Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science; Rumania Fil: Gomez Sanchez, Andrea Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina Fil: Milošev, Ingrid. Jožef Stefan Institute; Eslovenia Fil: Demetrescu, Ioana. Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science; Rumania Fil: Ceré, Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina

Planar films of calcium alginate were obtained using an ultrasonic atomizing device. Sodium alginate solutions of 0.6% and 0.9% (w/v) were nebulized with calcium gluconolactate solutions (gelling agent) of 0, 1, 2 and 3% (w/v) at a flow rate of 0.3mLmin-1 for 20min. After drying, thickness and mechanical properties were determined. In view of the results of mechanical properties, manageability and flexibility, calcium alginate films obtained using 0.9% sodium alginate and 2% calcium gluconolactate were selected as "optimum dry film" samples. These samples were cut into rectangular pieces and heated at 180°C for 0, 4, 8, 12, 20 and 24min. Thickness, mechanical and optical properties, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs were analyzed in order to characterize the physicochemical properties of heat-treated samples. The heat treatment produced thickness reduction, a yellow ochre color development and an increase in the brittleness of the films. DSC, FTIR and SEM studies suggested that heat treatment produced further dehydration of dry films and thermal dehydration-degradation of alginate macromolecules. Fil: Soazo, Marina del Valle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina Fil: Báez, Germán David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina Fil: Barboza, Andrea Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina Fil: Busti, Pablo Andres. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina Fil: Rubiolo, Amelia Catalina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; Argentina Fil: Verdini, Roxana Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina Fil: Delorenzi, Nestor Jorge. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina

Mechanical properties and good biocompatibility of zirconium and some of its alloys focus these materials as good candidates for biomedical applications. The attractive in vivo performance of zirconium is mainly due to the presence of a protective oxide layer. In this preliminary study, surface modification of pure zirconium was made by anodisation in acidic media at low potentials, enhancing the barrier protection given by the oxides and the osseointegration. Electrochemical and SEM (scanning electron microscopy) assays were done in commercially pure zirconium cylinders and two surface conditions were compared: pure and zirconium anodised at 30V. The in vivo assays were held in a tibia rat model. The histological features and fluorochrome labelling changes of newly bone formed around implants were evaluated on the non-decalcified sections 63 days after surgery. Electrochemical and SEM assays showed that anodisation treatment would increased the barrier effect over the material and the in vivo assays showed a continuous newly bone formation around the implant with a different amount of osteocytes in their lacunaes depending the region. There was no significant change in bone thickness around both kinds of implants but conversely a significant increase in the mineralization apposition rate was determined for the anodised condition suggesting that anodisation treatment would stimulate and assist to the osseointegration process. We conclude that anodisation treatment at 30 V can stimulate the implant fixation in a rat model and this study would propose the study of zirconium as candidate material for permanent implant. Fil: Katunar, Maria Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina Fil: Gomez Sanchez, Andrea Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina Fil: Ballarre, Josefina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina Fil: Baca, Matías. Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos ‘‘Oscar Alende’’. Mar del Plata; Argentina Fil: Vottola, Carlos. Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos ‘‘Oscar Alende’’; Argentina Fil: Orellano, Juan C.. Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos ‘‘Oscar Alende’’. Mar del Plata; Argentina Fil: Schell, Hanna. Universitatsmedizin Berlin; Alemania Fil: Duffo, Gustavo Sergio. Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica. Gerencia D/area de Energia Nuclear. Unidad de Actividad de Materiales (cac); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; Argentina Fil: Cere, Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina

Permanent metal implants are widely used in human medical treatments and orthopedics, for example as hip joint replacements. They are commonly made of titanium alloys and beyond the optimization of this established material, it is also essential to explore alternative implant materials in view of improved osseointegration. The aim of our study was to characterize the implant performance of zirconium in comparison to titanium implants. Zirconium implants have been characterized in a previous study concerning material properties and surface characteristics in vitro, such as oxide layer thickness and surface roughness. In the present study, we compare bone material quality around zirconium and titanium implants in terms of osseointegration and therefore characterized bone material properties in a rat model using a multi-method approach. We used light and electron microscopy, micro Raman spectroscopy, micro X-ray fluorescence and X-ray scattering techniques to investigate the osseointegration in terms of compositional and structural properties of the newly formed bone. Regarding the mineralization level, the mineral composition, and the alignment and order of the mineral particles, our results show that the maturity of the newly formed bone after 8 weeks of implantation is already very high. In conclusion, the bone material quality obtained for zirconium implants is at least as good as for titanium. It seems that the zirconium implants can be a good candidate for using as permanent metal prosthesis for orthopedic treatments Fil: Hoerth, Rebecca M.. Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces. Department of Biomaterials; Alemania. Berlin-Brandenburg School of Regenerative Therapies; Alemania Fil: Katunar, Maria Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina Fil: Gomez Sanchez, Andrea Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina Fil: Orellano, Juan C.. Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos ‘‘Oscar Alende’’; Argentina Fil: Cere, Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina Fil: Wagermaier, Wolfgang. Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces. Department of Biomaterials; Alemania Fil: Ballarre, Josefina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina