Genoveva Hernández-Padrón

Biocompatible metal-oxide nanoparticles: nanotechnology improvement of conventional prosthetic acrylic resins

Nowadays, most products for dental restoration are produced from acrylic resins based on heat-cured Poly(Methyl MethAcrylate) (PMMA). The addition of metal nanoparticles to organic materials is known to increase the surface hydrophobicity and to reduce adherence to biomolecules. This paper describes the use of nanostructured materials, TiO2 and Fe2O3, for simultaneously coloring and/or improving the antimicrobial properties of PMMA resins. Nanoparticles of metal oxides were included during suspension polymerization to produce hybrid metal oxides-alginate-containing PMMA. Metal oxide nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering, and X-ray diffraction. Physicochemical characterization of synthesized resins was assessed by a combination of spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, viscometry, porosity, and mechanical tests. Adherence of Candida albicans cells and cellular compatibility assays were performed to explore biocompatibility and microbial adhesion of standard and novel materials. Our results show that introduction of biocompatible metal nanoparticles is a suitable means for the improvement of conventional acrylic dental resins.

Development of hybrid materials consisting of SiO2 microparticles embedded in phenolic-formaldehydic resin polymer matrices

Abstract A phenolic-formaldehydic resin (PFR) of the Novolac-type and modified by the incorporation of carboxylic end groups (MPFR), is used to influence the morphological and optical properties of sol-gel synthesized SiO 2 materials. Silica microparticles are formed from the hydrolysis of silicon alkoxide solutions in ethanol and in the presence of polymerizing PFR or MPFR resins, hence rendering a final product consisting of SiO 2 globules entangled inside a resin network. Under appropriate experimental conditions, chemical unions are established between silanol groups anchored on the surface of the SiO 2 particles and MPFR carboxylic chains, to provide SiO 2 /MPFR core-shell compounds. The presence of PFR or MPFR resins during the SiO 2 sol-gel production influences: (i) the size of SiO 2 particles; and (ii) the transparency, translucency or opacity properties of the final hybrid products. Either one of the latter optical conditions is established by the amounts of reactants used to prepare a given hybrid specimen. FTIR, TGA and SEM are employed to determine the chemical and textural properties of SiO 2 /PFR and SiO 2 /MPFR solids. Results confirmed the existence of chemical bonds at the interface between silica and MPFR resin, as well as superior properties of these hybrid materials with respect to pure PFR or MPFR polymerized materials.

Ordered SiO2?(phenolic-formaldehyde resin) in situ nanocomposites

Nanocomposite materials consisting of monodisperse SiO2 particles embedded in a polymerized resin matrix were produced by the adhesion of silica globules on the surface of a chemically modified phenolic-formaldehyde resin (MPFR) substrate that incorporates carboxylic groups in its molecules. Two routes were followed to obtain SiO2 nanoparticles?MPFR materials. The first procedure consisted of the growth of an SiO2 phase concurrently with the presence of MPFR molecules. The second procedure involved the preparation of a monodisperse SiO2 sol that was subsequently mixed with an MPFR solution. The thermal curing of the MPFR resin phase at 80??C brought about thin SiO2?MPFR flakes from samples obtained from procedure 1 whilst monolithic pieces arose from samples from procedure 2. During the curing process, silanol surface groups of the silica globules reacted with carboxylic groups of the MPFR molecules to create a reinforced SiO2?MPFR substance that displayed ester bonds across the interface. Thermal treatments of specimens prepared by procedure?2 were performed at 150, 250, 400, 600 and 800??C to monitor the integrity of the resultant hybrid substrates. To assess the characteristics of SiO2?MPFR materials, some of the main chemical, structural and textural characteristics of several specimens have been determined via FTIR, SEM and N2 adsorption studies.

Delivery of chemotropic proteins and improvement of dopaminergic neuron outgrowth through a thixotropic hybrid nano-gel

Chemotropic proteins guide neuronal projections to their final target during embryo development and are useful to guide axons of neurons used in transplantation therapies. Site-specific delivery of the proteins however is needed for their application in the brain to avoid degradation and pleiotropic affects. In the present study we report the use of Poly (ethylene glycol)-Silica (PEG-Si) nanocomposite gel with thixotropic properties that make it injectable and suitable for delivery of the chemotropic protein semaphorin 3A. PEG-Si gel forms a functional gradient of semaphorin that enhances axon outgrowth of dopaminergic neurons from rat embryos or differentiated from stem cells in culture. It is not cytotoxic and its properties allowed its injection into the striatum without inflammatory response in the short term. Long term implantation however led to an increase in macrophages and glial cells. The inflammatory response could have resulted from non-degraded silica particles, as observed in biodegradation assays.

Biocompatibility of crystalline opal nanoparticles

BackgroundSilica nanoparticles are being developed as a host of biomedical and biotechnological applications. For this reason, there are more studies about biocompatibility of silica with amorphous and crystalline structure. Except hydrated silica (opal), despite is presents directly and indirectly in humans. Two sizes of crystalline opal nanoparticles were investigated in this work under criteria of toxicology.MethodsIn particular, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects caused by opal nanoparticles (80 and 120 nm) were evaluated in cultured mouse cells via a set of bioassays, methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium-bromide (MTT) and 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU).Results3T3-NIH cells were incubated for 24 and 72 h in contact with nanocrystalline opal particles, not presented significant statistically difference in the results of cytotoxicity. Genotoxicity tests of crystalline opal nanoparticles were performed by the BrdU assay on the same cultured cells for 24 h incubation. The reduction of BrdU-incorporated cells indicates that nanocrystalline opal exposure did not caused unrepairable damage DNA.ConclusionsThere is no relationship between that particles size and MTT reduction, as well as BrdU incorporation, such that the opal particles did not induce cytotoxic effect and genotoxicity in cultured mouse cells.

Incorporation of nanohybrid films of silica into recycled polystyrene matrix

An alternative for the reutilization of polystyrene waste containers consisting in creating a hybrid material made of SiO2 nanoparticles embedded in a matrix of recycled polystyrene (PSR) has been developed. Recycled polystyrene functionalized (PSRF) was used to influence the morphological and antifog properties by the sol-gel synthesis of nanohybrid silica. To this end, silica nanoparticles were produced from alkoxide precursors in the presence of recycled polystyrene. The functionalization of this polymeric matrix was with the purpose of uniting in situ carboxyl and silanol groups during the sol-gel process. In this way, opaque or transparent solid substrates can be obtained, with each of these endowed with optical conditions that depend on the amount of reactants employed to prepare each nanohybrid specimen. The nanohybrids were labelled as SiO2/PSR (HPSR) and SiO2/PSRF (HPSRF) and their properties were then compared to those of commercial polystyrene (PS). All the prepared samples were used for coating glass substrates. The hydrophobicity of the resultant coatings was determined through contact angle measurement. The nanohybrid materials were characterized by FT-IR and 1H-NMR techniques. Additionally, TGA and SEM were employed to determine their thermal and textural properties.

Hybrid materials based on functionalised epoxy resin networks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe how sol‐gel synthesised silica particles are used to modify the characteristics (especially the thermal and mechanical properties) of either an epoxy resin (ER) or a −COOH‐functionalised ER (FER) substrate. In the systems studied here, spherical silica particles are embedded in ER or FER thermosetting polymeric substrates for producing translucent solid materials. There arise covalent unions between the SiO2 silanol surface groups of the particles and the functionalised FER ends, thus rendering SiO2‐FER core‐shell compounds.Design/methodology/approach – The characterisation results confirm the affinity existing between ER and SiO2 particles as well as the existence of chemical bonds at the interface between the silica and FER phases.Findings – An efficient and durable application against corrosion of metallic materials has been developed through the preparation and application of thin surface films made of finely disseminated SiO2 colloidal particles, whi...

Anticorrosives, encapsulates, catalytic supports and other novel nanostructured materials

A phenolic-formaldehydic resin (PFR) of the Novolac-type and modified through the attachment of carboxylic end groups (MPR), is used to tailor the morphological and optical properties of sol–gel synthesized silica materials. Silica microparticles are produced from alkoxide precursors in the presence of PFR or MPR resins, leading to a final material consisting of SiO2 globules entangled inside a polymerized resin matrix. Under appropriate experimental conditions, chemical bonds can be established between the SiO2 silanol surface groups and the MPR carboxylic chains, to render SiO2/MPR core-shell-type compounds. The presence of PFR or MPR resins during the sol–gel production of silica microspheres allows to control: (i) the sizes of final SiO2 particles and (ii) the transparency or opacity properties of the final hybrid products. In this way, either opaque or transparent solid substrates can be obtained, depending on the amounts of reactants used to prepare the hybrid specimens. Solid MPR and SiO2/MPR samples were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy to determine chemical and textural properties of the hybrid substrates. Under appropriate experimental conditions, chemical bonds could be established between the SiO2 silanol surface groups and the MPR carboxylic chains, to render SiO2/MPR core-shell-type compounds.

Structure and Optical Properties of Doped SiO2 Mesoporous Glasses

Monolithic mesoporous silica glasses were synthesized. The presence of Cu 2+ and Fe 3+ cations during the synthesis of sol-gel precursors leads to different morphologies and pore sizes. The materials are characterized via IR and Raman scattering spectra to detect surface groups and -Si-O-Si- rings (i.e., 3–6 Si atoms) and morphology is examined through electron microscopy. N 2 sorption isotherms reveal details of the mesoporous structure of the materials, which are endowed with significantly large surface areas and pore volumes. Vapor percolation occurs in these samples because of a void arrangement consisting of pore bulges delimited by narrower necks. The optical characterization shows the luminescence spectrum and thermoluminescent behavior subjected to successive exposures of beta particles.

Crystallographic characterization of eggshells as scaffolds for bone regeneration

The aim of this work was to characterize six different eggshell types as future osseous regeneration scaffolds. The study design was cross-sectional observational. The study was conducted in the Laboratory of Materials and the chemical analysis in the Faculty of Chemistry, UNAM, Mexico. Fifty samples of fresh eggs were obtained, 10 from each species (hen, turkey, duck, dove and quail). Square-shaped pieces of about 2 x 2 cm were obtained from the eggshells by means of a high-speed handpiece with a # 701 carbide bur. From the total of eggshell pieces, the ones coming from fresh eggs were included, and the ones showing signs of fracture or spots were excluded. Their morphology was analyzed with a low vacuum scanning electron microscope (JEOL 5200), with an accelerating voltage of 20 kV. The chemical elemental analysis was performed with an EDAX energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and the chemical composition was determined by means of a Siemens diffractometer. All of the eggshells were constituted by calcium carbonates, and their outer structure was less porous than the inner one, sometimes with granules and cuticles firmly attached to the inner surface of the eggshell. The eggshell major chemical components were mainly: oxygen, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sulfur and carbon. There are no significant quantities of sulfur (S) in the turkey and quail eggshells. These kinds of eggshells have not been tested yet as a scaffold, but it is expected that they may be used soon in bone regeneration once the organic part is removed. Eggshells are largely waste material. The authors anknowledge the technical support to Chem. Rafael Ivan Puente Lee