Search results for "Biomaterials"
showing 10 items of 1265 documents
Directed Interactions of Block Copolypept(o)ides with Mannose-binding Receptors: PeptoMicelles Targeted to Cells of the Innate Immune System
2015
Core-shell structures based on polypept(o)ides combine stealth-like properties of the corona material polysarcosine with adjustable functionalities of the polypeptidic core. Mannose-bearing block copolypept(o)ides (PSar-block-PGlu(OBn)) have been synthesized using 11-amino-3,6,9-trioxa-undecyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-O-α-D-mannopyranoside as initiator in the sequential ring-opening polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides. These amphiphilic block copolypept(o)ides self-assemble into multivalent PeptoMicelles and bind to mannose-binding receptors as expressed by dendritic cells. Mannosylated micelles showed enhanced cell uptake in DC 2.4 cells and in bone marrow-derived dendritic ce…
Design characteristics, primary stability and risk of fracture of orthodontic mini-implants: Pilot scan electron microscope and mechanical studies
2013
Objectives: Orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs) are increasingly used in orthodontics but can fail for various reasons. This study investigates the effects of OMI design characteristics on the mechanical properties in artificial bone. Material and Methods: Twelve self-drilling OMIs (2 small, 6 medium, 4 large) from 8 manufacturers were tested for their primary stability in simulated medium-high cancellous bone and the risk to fracture in high-density methacrylate blocks. For the assessments of the maximum insertion torque (IT) and torsional fracture (TF) 5 of each OMI were used and for the pull-out strength (POS) 10. The OMIs were inserted with a torque screwdriver (12 sec/360°) until the bott…
Who eats first? Uptake of pellet bait by target and non-target species
2002
House mice (Mus domesticus) are an important vertebrate pest in Australian agriculture. We studied the uptake of non-toxic placebo bait pellets targeted on house mice from bait stations in the grain-growing region of southeastern Australia. Bait stations allowed access for either ants; ants and mice or ants, mice, and birds. Soy meal bait pellets offered in December were of low preference for both ants and mice, but were eaten by birds in one study plot. In January, there were no differences between bait stations in the amount of wheat bait pellets removed indicating that the pellet bait had been primarily removed by ants. Most pellet bait was removed during the first 12 h after distributio…
Functionality of endothelial cells on silk fibroin nets: Comparative study of micro- and nanometric fibre size
2007
Biomimetic material design, such as mimicking nanostructured components of the extracellular matrix, is an actual challenge for biomaterial research with a high impact on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Thus, understanding the cellular response at the cell biological and molecular level and the consequences of various chemically or physically modified biomaterials is highly important. In the present study we assessed the response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and outgrowth endothelial cells (OEC) from endothelial progenitor cells to different variants of nanofibrous silk fibroin nets in comparison to microfibrous silk fibroin scaffolds with regard to cellul…
Apparent interfacial shear strength of short-flax-fiber/starch acetate composites
2016
Abstract The paper deals with an indirect industry-friendly method for identification of the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) in a fully bio-based composite. The IFSS of flax fiber/starch acetate is evaluated by a modified Bowyer and Bader method based on an analysis of the stress–strain curve of a short-fiber-reinforced composite in tension. A shear lag model is developed for the tensile stress–strain response of short-fiber-reinforced composites allowing for an elastic-perfectly plastic stress transfer. Composites with different fiber volume fractions and a variable content of plasticizer have been analyzed. The apparent IFSS of flax/starch acetate is within the range of 5.5–20.5 MPa, de…
New method for remote and repeatable monitoring of intraocular pressure variations
2014
We present initial steps toward a new measurement device enabling high-precision, noncontact remote and repeatable monitoring of intraocular pressure (IOP)-based on an innovative measurement principle. Using only a camera and a laser source, the device measures IOP by tracking the secondary speckle pattern trajectories produced by the reflection of an illuminating laser beam from the iris or the sclera. The device was tested on rabbit eyes using two different methods to modify IOP: via an infusion bag and via mechanical pressure. In both cases, the eyes were stimulated with increasing and decreasing ramps of the IOP. As IOP variations changed the speckle distributions reflected back from th…
NanoBioInterface: a multidisciplinary challenge
2009
Nanotechnologies are being applied to many fields of science and engineering and represent a broad spectrum of methods, some of which have been known for a long time. However, the public interest as well as the promotion of this topic by funding agencies has led in some cases to a simple renaming of
Donnan equilibrium of ionic drugs in pH-dependent fixed charge membranes: theoretical modeling.
2002
Abstract We have studied theoretically the partition equilibrium of a cationic drug between an electrolyte solution and a membrane with pH-dependent fixed charges using an extended Donnan formalism. The aqueous solution within the fixed charge membrane is assumed to be in equilibrium with an external aqueous solution containing six ionic species: the cationic drug (DH + ), the salt cations (Na + and Ca 2+ ), the salt anion (Cl − ), and the hydrogen and hydroxide ions. In addition to these mobile species, the membrane solution may also contain four fixed species attached to the membrane chains: strongly acid sulfonic groups (SO 3 − ), weakly acid carboxylic groups in dissociated (COO − ) a…
Lead(II) ions adsorption onto amyloid particulates: An in depth study
2022
The production of new cost-effective biocompatible sorbent sustainable materials, with natural origins, able to remove heavy metals from water resources is nowadays highly desirable in order to reduce pollution and increase clean water availability. In this context, self-assembled protein materials with amyloid structures seem to have a great potential as natural platform for a broader development of highly-tunable structures. In this work we show how protein particulates, a generic form of protein aggregates, with spherical micro sized shape can be used as adsorbents of Pb2+ ions from aqueous solution. The effect of pH, ionic medium, ionic strength and temperature of the metal ion solution…
The elemental role of iron in DNA synthesis and repair
2017
Iron is an essential redox element that functions as a cofactor in many metabolic pathways. Critical enzymes in DNA metabolism, including multiple DNA repair enzymes (helicases, nucleases, glycosylases, demethylases) and ribonucleotide reductase, use iron as an indispensable cofactor to function. Recent striking results have revealed that the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerases also contains conserved cysteine-rich motifs that bind iron–sulfur (Fe/S) clusters that are essential for the formation of stable and active complexes. In line with this, mitochondrial and cytoplasmic defects in Fe/S cluster biogenesis and insertion into the nuclear iron-requiring enzymes involved in DNA synthesis a…