Lijun Ji

Bioactive Nanoparticle–Gelatin Composite Scaffold with Mechanical Performance Comparable to Cancellous Bones

Mechanical properties are among the most concerned issues for artificial bone grafting materials. The scaffolds used for bone grafts are either too brittle (glass) or too weak (polymer), and therefore composite scaffolds are naturally expected as the solution. However, despite the intensive studies on composite bone grafting materials, there still lacks a material that could be matched to the natural cancellous bones. In this study, nanosized bioactive particles (BP) with controllable size and good colloidal stability were used to composite with gelatin, forming macroporous scaffolds. It was found that the mechanical properties of obtained composite scaffolds, in terms of elastic modulus, compressive strength, and strain at failure, could match to that of natural cancellous bones. This is ascribed to the good distribution of particle in matrix and strong interaction between particle and gelatin. Furthermore, the incorporation of BPs endues the composite scaffolds with bioactivity, forming HA upon reacting with simulated body fluid (SBF) within days, thus stimulating preosteoblasts attachment, growth, and proliferation in these scaffolds. Together with their good mechanical properties, these composite scaffolds are promising artificial bone grating materials.

In vitro bioactivity and mechanical properties of bioactive glass nanoparticles/polycaprolactone composites

Nanoparticles of bioactive glass (NBG) with a diameter of 50-90 nm were synthesized using the Stöber method. NBG/PCL composites with different NBG contents (0 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 20 wt.%, 30 wt.% and 40 wt.%) were prepared by a melt blending and thermal injection moulding technique, and characterized with XRD, FTIR, and SEM to study the effect of NBG on the mechanical properties and in vitro bioactivity of the NBG/PCL composites. In spite of the high addition up to 40 wt.%, the NBG could be dispersed homogeneously in the PCL matrix. The elastic modulus of the NBG/PCL composites was improved remarkably from 198±13 MPa to 851±43 MPa, meanwhile the tensile strength was retained in the range of 19-21.5 MPa. The hydrophilic property and degradation behavior of the NBG/PCL composites were also improved with the addition of the NBG. Moreover, the composites with high NBG content showed outstanding in vitro bioactivity after being immersed in simulated body fluid, which could be attributed to the excellent bioactivity of the synthesized NBG.

Novel surfactant for preparation of poly(L-lactic acid) nanoparticles with controllable release profile and cytocompatibility for drug delivery.

Poly(L-lactic acid) nanoparticles loaded with a hydrophobic drug were prepared by an emulsion-evaporation process (oil in water) with a novel, effective and biocompatible surfactant butanedioic acid, 2-sulfo-1,4-butanedioic acid ditridecyl ester (sodium salt, 1:1) (BASDE). The particles are spherical in morphology and their diameters are controllable from 50 to 550nm with poly-dispersity indexes within the range of 0.122-0.340. The drug entrapment efficiency and drug content were measured by spectrophotometry. The drug release rate is affected by both the size of the particles and the drug content in the particles. In vitro cytotoxicity data indicate that these drug-loaded PLA nanoparticles are safe for hypodermic injection regard to the toxicological acceptance. This study demonstrates that using BASDE surfactant, the size of PLA nanoparticles can be controlled at the nanoscale with a narrow size distribution, and the drug release is controllable with excellent in vitro cytocompatibility. This may be due to efficient emulsification capability and biocompatibility of BASDE.

Influence of AC Electric Field on Macroscopic Network of Carbon Nanotubes in Polystyrene

CVD‐grown multiwall carbon nanotubes are dispersed in styrene monomer. During the polymerization of styrene, an AC electric field is applied to induce the CNTs to align along the electric field line to form a macroscopic nanotube network in polystyrene matrix. The dielectrophoresis force and the electric field redistribution at the CNTs apexes are responsible for alignment of the CNTs as well as bonding between the CNTs. Parameters such as field strength and nanotube weight fraction are varied. The results indicate that the macroscopic CNTs alignment along electric field direction can be observed only if the AC voltage reaches or is higher than certain values, and the higher the electric field frequency is, the more uniformly the CNTs align along electric field direction. In addition, nanotube concentration also affects the alignment of CNTs. According to the results of this study, the CNTs will align into a developed network in polystyrene matrix under a proper combination of three parameters of the electric field voltage, frequency, and the CNTs concentration.

Thermal stability of carbon nanotubes under 5.5GPa

Study of thermal stability of carbon nanotubes under high pressure by XRD and TEM. Formation of onion-like and ribbon-like structures at 950°C and graphite at 1150°C

Preparation and evaluation of a novel gastric mucoadhesive sustained-release acyclovir microsphere

Objective: The objective of this study was to prepare a novel gastric mucoadhesive sustained-release acyclovir (AV)-resinate microsphere. Methods: First, AV absorption ratio was quantified in a rat gastrointestinal (GI) tract model. AV-resinate was prepared by bath method and used as cores to prepare microspheres by an emulsion solvent diffusion technique with carbopol 934 as coating material. GI transit test of the prepared microspheres was carried out in rats and beagle dogs, followed by the in vivo bioavailability evaluation of the microspheres in beagle dogs. Results: The AV absorption ratio in different segments of rats GI track for 3 hours was as following: stomach 9.46 ± 0.62%, duodenum 20.22 ± 1.50%, jejunum 15.7 ± 1.33%, ileum 9.15 ± 1.01%, and colon 4.59 ± 0.48%. These results showed that AV was mainly absorbed in the stomach and upper intestine. The average diameter of the microspheres was 115.3 μm. The microspheres had a drug content of 33.3 ± 0.7% (w/w) and a sustained-release profile for 12 hours in vitro. The mucoadhesive test in rats and beagle dogs showed that most of the microspheres were retained in the stomach 6 hours after oral administration. The in vivo pharmacokinetics test revealed that the microsphere and reference (AV tablets) preparations have no significant difference for Cmax. The tmax has increased from 2.33 hours (reference) to 5 hours (test). Meanwhile, the relative bioavailability of AV microspheres was 145%. Conclusion: A novel AV-resinate microsphere was prepared. The microspheres were proved to be gastric mucoadhesive and sustained-release with higher bioavailability.

Macroscopic synthesis of onion-like graphitic particles

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) study of some low-dimensional nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubules and silicon-based blue-light emitting beta-SiC nanoparticles will be reported. We have shown that nested hollow tubules formed by successive cylindrical graphite sheets are found, frequently, to be polyhedral or elliptical in cross-section, which are perpendicular to the tube-axis. Varied spacing between adjacent tube sheets is observed and edge-type dislocations can be distinguished in some tubules. These abnormal structural features are related to accommodations of various strains taking place simultaneously in tube sheets. Blue-light emitting porous beta-SiC formed by C+ implantation of a single crystal silicon wafer have also been investigated. Buried layer structures with different beta-SiC concentration were formed in the implanted silicon substrate. These beta-SiC nano-particles are 2-8 nm in size and formed epitaxially from the upper and lower damaged layers, respectively, but randomly in the middle layer. The structural characteristics of the layered structure may be responsible for the blue-light emitting effect of the porous beta-SiC material

SOME KEY ORDERED MACROPOROUS COMPOSITES

This review summarizes recent progress of the ordered macroporous composites with the opals and inverse opal structure. Synthesis and performance of the composites are emphasized. Composition of the ordered composites is tunable ranging within metal, metal alloy, metal oxide, polymer, carbon and hydrogel. The ordered structure gives brilliant color effects, which is useful for sensors and photonic crystals. The interconnected macroporous structure provides easiness for mass transportation and species culturing.

Macroscopic Networks of Carbon Nanotubes in PMMA Matrix Induced by AC Electric Field

It has been proven that electric fields can be used to improve the dispersion and alignment of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in liquid media. In this article, an AC electric field is applied to blending of suspension of CNTs in methlmethacrylate (MMA) monomer during the polymerization of the MMA monomer initiated by 2 2‐azoisobytyronitrile (AIBN). Polymethlmethacrylate (PMMA) composites with macroscopic CNTs networks are prepared. It is found that morphologies of the CNTs networks are strongly dependent on the electric field parameters and polymerization conditions, such as the voltage, frequency, exerting time of the electric field, shapes of the electrodes for introducing the electric field, and the polymerization temperature. Increased voltage and frequency are found to be beneficial for the improvement of the CNTs dispersion and alignment, while fine CNTs networks are formed with optimized polymerization temperature and exerting time of the electric field.

Porous hollow carbon nanotube composite cages

Mechanically robust, hollow carbon nanotube composite spheres that are permeable to large chemical species were prepared by a layer-by-layer assembly and templating technique.