Weeraphat Pon-On

Mechanical properties, biological activity and protein controlled release by poly(vinyl alcohol)-bioglass/chitosan-collagen composite scaffolds: a bone tissue engineering applications.

In the present study, composite scaffolds made with different weight ratios (0.5:1, 1:1 and 2:1) of bioactive glass (15Ca:80Si:5P) (BG)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (PVABG) and chitosan (Chi)/collagen (Col) (ChiCol) were prepared by three mechanical freeze-thaw followed by freeze-drying to obtain the porous scaffolds. The mechanical properties and the in vitro biocompatibility of the composite scaffolds to simulated body fluid (SBF) and to rat osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells were investigated. The results from the studies indicated that the porosity and compressive strength were controlled by the weight ratio of PVABG:ChiCol. The highest compressive modulus of the composites made was 214.64 MPa which was for the 1:1 weight ratio PVABG:ChiCol. Mineralization study in SBF showed the formation of apatite crystals on the PVABG:ChiCol surface after 7 days of incubation. In vitro cell availability and proliferation tests confirmed the osteoblast attachment and growth on the PVABG:ChiCol surface. MTT and ALP tests on the 1:1 weight ratio PVABG:ChiCol composite indicated that the UMR-106 cells were viable. Alkaline phosphatase activity was found to increase with increasing culturing time. In addition, we showed the potential of PVABG:ChiCol drug delivery through PBS solution studies. 81.14% of BSA loading had been achieved and controlled release for over four weeks was observed. Our results indicated that the PVABG:ChiCol composites, especially the 1:1 weight ratio composite exhibited significantly improved mechanical, mineral deposition, biological properties and controlled release. This made them potential candidates for bone tissue engineering applications.

INCORPORATION OF IRON INTO NANO HYDROXYAPATITE PARTICLES SYNTHESIZED BY THE MICROWAVE PROCESS

This research focuses on understanding the nature of the Fe ions substituted in hydroxyapatite ((HAP) Ca10-xFex(PO4)6(OH)2-xyx: x = 0, 0.2 and 0.4) powder synthesized at temperatures between 500°C and 1000°C and their crystallization. The DSC scan indicates a solid state phase transition at about 757°C for the as-prepared powder HAP. The transformation of HAP to β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP, β-Ca3(PO4)2) is seen when the powder were heated to 750°C. The sizes of the crystallites were determined to be about 46–51 nm, 33–40 nm and 33–59 nm for Fe content of 0, 0.2 and 0.4 mol%, respectively. The ESR parameters for the Fe3+ ions, g = 4.23 and 8.93 indicated that the ions were subjected to a rhombic ion crystal field within the HAP structures. The g values of ~2.01 indicated that the particles were super-paramagnetic and ferromagnetic iron nanoparticles, having an average size about 0.2–0.5 μm in length.

Synthesis of doxorubicin-PLGA loaded chitosan stabilized (Mn, Zn)Fe2O4 nanoparticles: Biological activity and pH-responsive drug release.

We have synthesized Mn1-xZnxFe2O4 ((Mn, Zn) ferrite) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) having radius of 25nm to act as platforms for delivering drugs. The Mn0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 MNPs exhibit superparamagnetic behavior with large saturation magnetization (MS). They were encapsulated in polymer so that they can be developed into PLGA-coated chitosan stabilized (Mn, Zn) MNPs, i.e., DOX-PLGA@CS@Mn0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 which can serve as an effective carrier of the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) whose release would be controlled by the pH in the environment surrounding the cancer tumor. The structure of the as-prepared particles is of a magnetic core-encapsulated by polymer shell layer of around 50nm thick. At a pH of 4.0, the DOX release within the first 5h is fast (around 57%). It becomes slower (around 46% over the next 25h) when the pH is increased to 7.4. The DOX-PLGA@CS@Mn0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 (for concentrations lower than 125μgmL(-1)) shows lower toxicity against HeLa cells using DOX only. When the DOX-PLGA@CS@Mn0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 is increased to 250μgmL(-1), the DOX-PLGA@CS@Mn0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 shows greater anti-cancer activity and has satisfactory therapeutic effect. The slow sustained release of the DOX by the drug loaded particles when they are in the physiological pH environment (7.4) of normal tissues and mild toxicity of DOX against cancer cell at low concentration point to the DOX loaded PLGA@CS@Mn0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 being safely used for treating cancer. The higher dosage of DOX needed to kill the cancer cells will be released when the synthesized carriers are subject to the pH stimuli surrounding these cells.

In vitro study of vancomycin release and osteoblast-like cell growth on structured calcium phosphate-collagen

A drug delivery vehicle consisting of spherical calcium phosphate-collagen particles covered by flower-like (SFCaPCol) blossoms composed of nanorod building blocks and their cellular response is studied. The spherical structure was achieved by a combination of sonication and freeze-drying. The SFCaPCol blossoms have a high surface area of approximately 280 m(2) g(-1). The blossom-like formation having a high surface area allows a drug loading efficiency of 77.82%. The release profile for one drug, vancomycin (VCM), shows long term sustained release in simulated body fluid (SBF), in a phosphate buffer saline (PBS, pH 7.4) solution and in culture media over 2 weeks with a cumulative release ~53%, 75% and 50%, respectively, over the first 7 days. The biocompatibility of the VCM-loaded SFCaPCol scaffold was determined by in vitro cell adhesion and proliferation tests of rat osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells. MTT tests indicated that UMR-106 cells were viable after exposure to the VCM loaded SFCaPCol, meaning that the scaffold (the flower-like blossoms) did not impair the cells viability. The density of cells on the substrate was seen to increase with increasing cultured time.

Hydroxyapatite from fish scale for potential use as bone scaffold or regenerative material.

The present paper studies the physico-chemical, bioactivity and biological properties of hydroxyapatite (HA) which is derived from fish scale (FS) (FSHA) and compares them with those of synthesized HA (sHA) obtained by co-precipitation from chemical solution as a standard. The analysis shows that the FSHA is composed of flat-plate nanocrystal with a narrow width size of about 15-20 nm and having a range of 100 nm in length and that the calcium phosphate ratio (Ca/P) is 2.01 (Ca-rich CaP). Whereas, synthesized HA consists of sub-micron HA particle having a Ca/P ratio of 1.65. Bioactivity test shows that the FSHA forms more new apatite than does the sHA after being incubated in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7 days. Moreover, the biocompatibility study shows a higher osteoblast like cell adhesion on the FSHA surface than on the sHA substrate after 3 days of culturing. Our results also show the shape of the osteoblast cells on the FSHA changes from being a rounded shape to being a flattened shape reflecting its spreading behavior on this surface. MTT assay and ALP analysis show significant increases in the proliferation and activity of osteoblasts over the FSHA scaffold after 5 days of culturing as compared to those covering the sHA substrates. These results confirm that the bio-materials derived from fish scale (FSHA) are biologically better than the chemically synthesized HA and have the potential for use as a bone scaffold or as regenerative materials.

Biomagnetic of Apatite-Coated Cobalt Ferrite: A Core–Shell Particle for Protein Adsorption and pH-Controlled Release

Magnetic nanoparticle composite with a cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4, (CF)) core and an apatite (Ap) coating was synthesized using a biomineralization process in which a modified simulated body fluid (1.5SBF) solution is the source of the calcium phosphate for the apatite formation. The core–shell structure formed after the citric acid–stabilized cobalt ferrite (CFCA) particles were incubated in the 1.5 SBF solution for 1 week. The mean particle size of CFCA-Ap is about 750 nm. A saturation magnetization of 15.56 emug-1 and a coercivity of 1808.5 Oe were observed for the CFCA-Ap obtained. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as the model protein to study the adsorption and release of the proteins by the CFCA-Ap particles. The protein adsorption by the CFCA-Ap particles followed a more typical Freundlich than Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The BSA release as a function of time became less rapid as the CFCA-Ap particles were immersed in higher pH solution, thus indicating that the BSA release is dependent on the local pH.

Biocomposite of hydroxyapatite-titania rods (HApTiR): Physical properties and in vitro study

The aim in this research is to study the physical and biocompatible properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp) composites (HApTiR) having different amounts of titania rod (TiR) in them (10-90 wt.%). The HAp and TiR were produced using hydrothermal and co-precipitation under reflux methods, respectively. The physical properties and the in vitro biocompatibility of the composites to simulated body fluid (SBF) were investigated. They were also cultured with rat osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells. The synthesized powder showed a core-shell structure with the titania rod as the core and the apatite as the shell. The hardness of the composites of HApTiRs whisker increased from 74.8 to 92.9 MPa as the TiR content was increased from 10 to 90 wt.%. Mineralization study in SBF showed the formation of apatite crystals on the HApTiRs surface after 7 days of incubation. In vitro cell adhesion tests confirmed the osteoblast attachment and growth on the HApTiRs surface. The density of cells, spread and the production of calcium nodules on the substrate were seen to increase with increasing TiR contents except for HApTiR90 (TiR=90 wt.%) which exhibited lesser growth. MTT tests on HApTiR70 indicated that UMR-106 cells were viable and the density of cells on the substrate was seen to increase with increasing culturing time.

The Study of Metal Sulfide as Efficient Counter Electrodes on the Performances of CdS/CdSe/ZnS-co-sensitized Hierarchical TiO2 Sphere Quantum Dot Solar Cells

The effects of using different counter electrode metal sulfides on the performances of solar cells made with CdS/CdSe/ZnS quantum dots co-sensitized onto hierarchical TiO2 spheres (HTSs) used as photo-electrode are reported. The HTS in the QDSSCs is composed of an assembly of numerous TiO2 spheres made by the solvolthermal method. The photoelectrical performance of HTS/CdS/CdSe/ZnS coupled to CuS or to Cu2ZnSn(S1 − xSex)4 with x = 0, 0.5, or 1.0 counter electrodes (CEs) were compared to those coupled to Pt CE. The HTS/CdS/CdSe/ZnS coupled to the CuS CE showed the highest power conversion efficiency η (of 3.46%). The efficiencies η of 1.88, 2.64, and 2.06% were obtained for CZTS (x = 0), CZTS0.5Se0.5 (x = 0.5), and CZTSe (x = 1), respectively. These are significantly higher than those using a standard Pt CE (η = 0.37%). These higher efficiencies are the results of the higher electrocatalytic activities when the metal sulfide CEs are used.

Evaluation of bioactive glass incorporated poly(caprolactone)-poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix and the effect of BMP-2 modification.

Composite materials having mechanical and biological properties similar to those of human bones are needed for bone regeneration and repair. In the present study, composites were made by incorporating bioactive glass (BG) into polycaprolactone (PCL)-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (PCLPVA) matrix. Composites with different BG contents of 10, 25 and 50wt% were fabricated by an in-situ blending method. Physicochemical properties measurements found that the composite with 50wt% BG in the PCLPVA organic matrix exhibited the best mechanical properties (compressive strength and compressive youngs modulus up to 32.26MPa and 530.91MPa, respectively). We investigated the effects of the BG content on cell adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic activity of UMR-106 cells grown on the scaffolds using in vitro cell culture assay. The composite scaffolds having 25wt% BG showed a significant increase in their cell adhesion capability and a faster cell proliferation. They also exhibited cell adhesion and spreading morphology after only 5days of culturing. For these reasons, we chose to attach the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 to this composite. The resulting composite (labeled BMP-2-loaded PCLPVABG25) showed significant improvement in the UMR-106 cells adhesion, in the enhancement in osteogenic differentiation and osteoinductivity of this composite.

Study of copper sulfide counter electrode on the performances of CdS/CdSe/ZnS-sensitized hierarchical TiO2 spheres quantum dots solar cells

The effects of using copper sulfide (CuS) counter electrodes on the performances of solar cells made with CdS/CdSe/ZnS quantum dots co-sensitized onto hierarchical TiO2 spheres (HTS) used as photoelectrode is reported. The HTS in the QDSSCs is composed of an assembly of numerous TiO2 spheres made by the solvolthermal method. The photoelectrical performance of HTS/CdS/CdSe/ZnS coupled to CuS counter electrode was compared to those coupled to Pt CE. The HTS/CdS/CdSe/ZnS coupled to the CuS CE showed the highest power conversion efficiency η (of 1.310 %.) which is significantly higher than those using a standard Pt CE (η = 0.374%) (3.50 fold). This higher efficiency is the results of the higher electrocatalytic activities when the copper sulfide CEs is used.