Eriks Palcevskis

Corrosion Stability and Bioactivity in Simulated Body Fluid of Silver/Hydroxyapatite and Silver/Hydroxyapatite/Lignin Coatings on Titanium Obtained by Electrophoretic Deposition

Hydroxyapatite is the most suitable biocompatible material for bone implant coatings. However, its brittleness is a major obstacle, and that is why, recently, research focused on creating composites with various biopolymers. In this study, hydroxyapatite coatings were modified with lignin in order to attain corrosion stability and surface porosity that enables osteogenesis. Incorporating silver, well known for its antimicrobial properties, seemed the best strategy for avoiding possible infections. The silver/hydroxyapatite (Ag/HAP) and silver/hydroxyapatite/lignin (Ag/HAP/Lig) coatings were cathaphoretically deposited on titanium from ethanol suspensions, sintered at 900 °C in Ar, and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The corrosion stability of electrodeposited coatings was evaluated in vitro in Kokubos simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37 °C using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Bioactivity was estimated by immersion in SBF to evaluate the formation of hydroxyapatite on the coating surface. A microcrystalline structure of newly formed plate-shaped carbonate-hydroxyapatite was detected after only 7 days, indicating enhanced bioactive behavior. Both coatings had good corrosion stability during a prolonged immersion time. Among the two, the Ag/HAP/Lig coating had a homogeneous surface, less roughness, and low values of contact angle.

Computational study of hydroxyapatite structures, properties and defects

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) was studied from a first principle approach using the local density approximation (LDA) method in AIMPRO code, in combination with various quantum mechanical (QM) and molecular mechanical (MM) methods from HypemChem 7.5/8.0. The data obtained were used for studies of HAp structures, the physical properties of HAp (density of electronic states—DOS, bulk modulus etc) and defects in HAp. Computed data confirmed that HAp can co-exist in different phases—hexagonal and monoclinic. Ordered monoclinic structures, which could reveal piezoelectric properties, are of special interest. The data obtained allow us to characterize the properties of the following defects in HAp: O, H and OH vacancies; H and OH interstitials; substitutions of Ca by Mg, Sr, Mn or Se, and P by Si. These properties reveal the appearance of additional energy levels inside the forbidden zone, shifts of the top of the valence band or the bottom of the conduction band, and subsequent changes in the width of the forbidden zone. The data computed are compared with other known data, both calculated and experimental, such as alteration of the electron work functions under different influences of various defects and treatments, obtained by photoelectron emission. The obtained data are very useful, and there is an urgent need for such analysis of modified HAp interactions with living cells and tissues, improvement of implant techniques and development of new nanomedical applications.

Biocompatibility and bioactivity enhancement of Ce stabilized ZrO2 doped HA coatings by controlled porosity change of Al2O3 substrates

Al(2) O(3) substrates with controlled porosity were manufactured from nanosized powders obtained by plasma processing. It was observed that when increasing the sintering temperature the overall porosity was decreasing, but the pores got larger. In a second step, Ce stabilized ZrO(2) doped hydroxyapatite coatings were pulsed laser deposited onto the Al(2) O(3) substrates. It was shown that the surface morphology, consisting of aggregates and particulates in micrometric range, was altered by the substrate porosity and interface properties, respectively. TEM studies evidenced that Ce stabilized ZrO(2) doped HA particulates ranged from 10 to 50 nm, strongly depending on the Al(2) O(3) porosity. The coatings consisted of HA nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous matrix quite similar to the bone structure. These findings were congruent with the increased biocompatibility and bioactivity of these layers confirmed by enhanced growing and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

The effect of grain size on the biocompatibility, cell–materials interface, and mechanical properties of microwave‐sintered bioceramics

The effect of decreasing the grain size on the biocompatibility, cell-material interface, and mechanical properties of microwave-sintered monophase hydroxyapatite bioceramics was investigated in this study. A nanosized stoichiometric hydroxyapatite powder was isostatically pressed at high pressure and sintered in a microwave furnace in order to obtain fine grained dense bioceramics. The samples sintered at 1200°C, with a density near the theoretical one, were composed of micron-sized grains, while the grain size decreased to 130 nm on decreasing the sintering temperature to 900°C. This decrease in the grain size certainly led to increases in the fracture toughness by much as 54%. An in vitro investigation of biocompatibility with L929 and human MRC-5 fibroblast cells showed noncytotoxic effects for both types of bioceramics, while the relative cell proliferation rate, cell attachment and metabolic activity of the fibroblasts were improved with decreasing of grain size. An initial in vivo investigation of biocompatibility by the primary cutaneous irritation test showed that both materials exhibited no irritation properties.

Spectral characterization of bulk and nanostructured aluminum nitride

Spectral characteristics including photoluminescence (PL) spectra and its excitation spectra for different AlN materials (AlN ceramics, macro size powder and nanostructured forms such as nanopowder, nanorods and nanotips) were investigated at room temperature. Besides the well known UV-blue (around 400 nm) and red (600 nm) luminescence, the 480 nm band was also observed as an asymmetric long-wavelength shoulder of the UV-blue PL band. This band can be related to the luminescence of some kind of surface defects, probably also including the oxygen-related defects. The mechanisms of recombination luminescence and excitation of the UV-blue luminescence caused by the oxygen-related defects were investigated. It was found that the same PL band is characteristic for different AlN materials mentioned above; however, in the nanostructured materials (nanorods, nanotips and nanopowder) the intensity of UV-blue PL is remarkable lower than in the bulk material (ceramics). In the case of nanostructured AlN materials, excitation of the oxygen-related defect is mainly realized through the energy transfer from the host material (electron/hole or exciton processes) to the defects and this mechanism prevails over the mechanism of direct defect excitation.

Oxygen-related defects and energy accumulation in aluminum nitride ceramics

Abstract Features of oxygen-related defects in the AlN crystalline lattice were studied. Spectral characteristics of photoluminescence and photostimulated luminescence under the UV light irradiation of AlN ceramics were examined. The results obtained allow us to propose the mechanisms of luminescence and radiation-induced energy accumulation in AlN.

The Influence of Surface Treatment by Hydrogenation on the Biocompatibility of Different Hydroxyapatite Materials

The influence of hydrogenation on the biocompatibility of different hydroxyapatite (HAP) materials was tested. Materials consisted of pure HAP, HAP substituted with manganese (Mn+2) and with magnesium (Mg+2) – all axially pressed and conventionally sintered for 2 h at 1200 °C; pure HAP isostatic pressed and sintered by a microwave technique for 15 min at temperature of 1200 °C. Biocompatibility was compared by enumeration of the number of osteoblast-like cells to the materials before and after hydrogenation. Obtained results show that the osteoblastic cells demonstrated a higher ability to attach to HAP if its surface was negatively charged. Hydrogenation altered the surface potential; HAP substituted with manganese – HAP(Mn) and with magnesium – HAP(Mg) demonstrated the highest ability to engineer the charge.

Spectral properties of AIN ceramics

Spectral properties of oxygen-related defects are studied in AIN ceramics at room temperatures. Original results concerning the photoluminescence under ultraviolet irradiation are obtained; they include the excitation spectrum and irradiation dose effects. The ultraviolet light energy storage and its release under irradiation with visible or infrared light in the form of the photostimulated luminescence has been observed in AIN ceramics. The properties of the photostimulated luminescence such as creation, emission and stimulation spectra are reported. For the explanation of the experimental results the mechanism of the recombination luminescence involving the oxygen-related defect is proposed.

Properties of Nanosized Ferrite Powders and Sintered Materials Prepared by the Co-Precipitation Technology, Combined with the Spray-Drying Method

Cobalt and nickel ferrites powders are synthesized by the co-precipitation technology, combined with the spray-drying method. The crystallite size, specific surface area (SSA), magnetic properties of synthesized products are investigated. All the synthesized ferrites are nanocrystalline single phase materials with crystallite size of 5-6 nm, the SSA of 80-85 m2/g and the calculated particle size of 13-15 nm. After spray-drying granules of the size up to 10 μm are obtained. After thermal treatment at 550 and 950 °C SSA decreases to 40-50 m2/g and 20-22 m2/g, respectively. The saturation magnetization at these temperatures increase from 17 to 40 emu/g for NiFe2O4 and from 51 to 77 emu/g for CoFe2O4. By the pressure-less sintering method the dense material forms at 1100 °C for CoFe2O4 and 1200-1300 °C for NiFe2O4.

Tribological Properties of Zirconium Oxide, Spinel and Mullite Nanopowders as Lubricating Oil Additives

In work investigated effects of zirconium oxide (ZrO2), spinel (MgAl2O4) and mullite (Al6Si2O13) nanosized powders on the base oil tribological properties. The nanosized (30-40nm) powders manufactured by plasma chemical synthesis method. Tribological experiments used on ball-on-disc type tribometer, measured coefficient of friction and determined metalic disc wear. Base oil used selectively purified mineral oil (conform SAE-20 viscosity) without any functional additives. Nanosized powders dispersed in base oil at 0.5; 1.0; 2.0; wt.%. At work cocluded, that the adition nanoparticles in base oil, possible reduced friction pair wear and friction coefficient. As the main results include spinel (MgAl2O4) nanoparticles 0.5 and 1.0 wt. % concentration ability reduced friction coeffiecient value.