Mehdi Ahmadian

Novel bioactive Co-based alloy/FA nanocomposite for dental applications.

Background: Dental cobalt base alloys are biocompatible dental materials and have been widely used in dentistry. However, metals are bioinert and may not present bioactivity in human body. Bioactivity is the especial ability to interact with human body and make a bonding to soft and hard tissues. The aim of the present research was fabrication and bioactivity evaluation of novel cobalt alloy/Fluorapatite nanocomposite (CoA/FaNC) with different amounts of Fluorapatite (FA) nanopowder. Materials and Methods: Co-Cr-Mo alloy (ASTM F75) powder was prepared and mixed in a planetary ball mill with different amounts of FA nanopowders (10, 15, 20% wt). Prepared composite powders were cold pressed and sintered at 1100°C for 4 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and transition electron microscopy techniques were used for phase analysis, crystallite size determination of FA and also for phase analysis and evaluation of particle distribution of composites. Bioactivity behavior of prepared nanocomposites was evaluated in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 1 up to 28 days. Materials and Methods: Co-Cr-Mo alloy (ASTM F75) powder was prepared and mixed in a planetary ball mill with different amounts of FA nanopowders (10, 15, 20% wt). Prepared composite powders were cold pressed and sintered at 1100°C for 4 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and transition electron microscopy techniques were used for phase analysis, crystallite size determination of FA and also for phase analysis and evaluation of particle distribution of composites. Bioactivity behavior of prepared nanocomposites was evaluated in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 1 up to 28 days. Results: Results showed that nucleus of apatite were formed on the surface of the prepared CoA/FaNC during 1 up to 28 days immersion in the SBF solution. On the other hand, CoA/FaNC unlike Co-base alloy possessed bone-like apatite-formation ability. Conclusion: It was concluded that bioinert Co-Cr-Mo alloy could be successfully converted into bioactive nanocomposite by adding 10, 15, 20 wt% of FA nano particles.

Investigation of Osteoinductive Effects of Different Compositions of Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles for Bone Tissue Engineering

Bioactive glasses (BG) is one of the well-known materials that used as dental and bone implants, for this reason it is always interesting for researchers has been to increase BG efficiency in the bone tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to evaluate the osteoinductivity of BG different composition nanoparticles with SiO2–CaO–P2O5. The 45S, 58S, and 63S compositions were prepared via the sol–gel technique. Characterization techniques such as x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and laser Doppler electrophoresis (LDE) were used. The osteoinductive capacity of prepared nanoparticles was investigated using unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC). The particle size of the samples with an amorphous structure mainly ranged less than 40 nm. The zeta potential was negative for all compositions in distilled water at pH 7.4. Bioactive glass nanoparticles were shown to support proliferation of USSC, as shown by microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay. During osteogenic differentiation, significantly highest values of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and biomineralization were observed on 45S BG. Subsequently, these markers were measured in higher amounts in USSC on 58S and 63S BG compared with tissue culture polystyrene. The nanometric particle size, osteoinductivity, and negative zeta potential make this material a possible candidate for bone tissue engineering applications.

Processing of porous Co-base nano-composite using carbonate hydrogen ammonium spacer particles

Porous Co-base nano-composites were successfully prepared by the combination of different techniques. Scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, compression and cell culture tests were used to characterise the fabricated samples and milled metal powder. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis show that induced strain during milling and compression test, and high temperature during sintering process lead to HCP–FCC phase transformation. Lamellar carbides, weaker interparticle bonding and phase transformation can lead to the brittle behaviour of the samples during compression test and also fluctuations observed in peak region in compressive stress–strain curves. The elastic modulus and compressive strength were measured to be from 7.3 to 63 MPa and 0.58 to 2.3 GPa for samples with porosities ranging from 58.9 to 38.1%, respectively. Cell cultures show good adhesion of cells on the surface and with each other and also reveal that cells grow on the surface and inside the pores.

Porous vitalium-base nano-composite for bone replacement: Fabrication, mechanical, and in vitro biological properties.

Porous nano-composites were successfully prepared on addition of 58S bioactive glass to Co-base alloy with porosities of 37.2-58.8% by the combination of milling, space-holder and powder metallurgy techniques. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis showed that induced strain during milling of the Co-base alloy powder and also isothermal heat treatment during sintering process led to HCP↔FCC phase transformation which affected mechanical properties of the samples during compression test. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images showed that despite the remaining 58S powder in nanometer size in the composite, there were micro-particles due to sintering at high temperature which led to two different apatite morphologies after immersion in simulated body fluid. Calculated elastic modulus and 0.2% proof strength from stress-strain curves of compression tests were in the range of 2.2-8.3GPa and 34-198MPa, respectively. In particular, the mechanical properties of sample with 37.2% were found to be similar to those of human cortical bone. Apatite formation which was identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), pH meter and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that it could successfully convert bioinert Co-base alloy to bioactive type by adding 58S bioglass nano-particles. SEM images of cell cultured on the porous nano-composite with 37.2% porosity showed that cells properly grew on the surface and inside the micro and macro-pores.

Effect of sintering temperature and time on the mechanical properties of Co–Cr–Mo/58S bioglass porous nano-composite

In the present study, Co–Cr–Mo/58S bioglass porous nano-composite samples were successfully produced using 30 wt% carbonate hydrogen ammonium and polyvinyl alcohol solution as space holder and binder, respectively. The cold compacted samples were heated at 175°C for 2 h and then were heated to sinter at 1100, 1150, 1200 and 1250°C for 3, 6, 9 and 12 h. True porosity of samples was measured and the samples were characterized using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and compressive test. Although the results of compression test for samples sintered at 1200 and 1250°C showed that the shape of stress–strain curves were similar to each other, compacted powders sintered at 1100 and 1150°C exhibited some fluctuations. Moreover, the compressive strength increased by decreasing the true porosity, indicating the role of high temperature on the sintering process. In addition, volume diffusion was predominant mechanism for these samples at sintering temperature of 1250°C. SEM images of the porous sample sintered at 1250°C for 3 h showed an appropriate range of pore sizes and interconnectivity. The XRD results showed that there are no contaminations and new phase is detectable in the sintered porous samples.