Ya-Jun Cheng

A study on alkaline heat treated Mg-Ca alloy for the control of the biocorrosion rate

To reduce the biocorrosion rate by surface modification, Mg-Ca alloy (1.4wt.% Ca content) was soaked in three alkaline solutions (Na(2)HPO(4), Na(2)CO(3) and NaHCO(3)) for 24h, respectively, and subsequently heat treated at 773K for 12h. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy results revealed that magnesium oxide layers with the thickness of about 13, 9 and 26microm were formed on the surfaces of Mg-Ca alloy after the above different alkaline heat treatments. Atomic force microscopy showed that the surfaces of Mg-Ca alloy samples became rough after three alkaline heat treatments. The in vitro corrosion tests in simulated body fluid indicated that the corrosion rates of Mg-Ca alloy were effectively decreased after alkaline heat treatments, with the following sequence: NaHCO(3) heated<Na(2)HPO(4) heated<Na(2)CO(3) heated. The cytotoxicity evaluation revealed that none of the alkaline heat treated Mg-Ca alloy samples induced toxicity to L-929 cells during 7days culture.

Super-tough double-network hydrogels reinforced by covalently compositing with silica-nanoparticles

We have successfully developed hydrogels with high compressive toughness by reinforcing the double-network structure (PAMPS/PAAm) with grafted silica nanoparticles. Silica nanoparticles grafted with vinyl end groups were used as macro-crosslinkers to copolymerize with AMPS, yielding a nanocomposite first network. Subsequent introduction of a secondary PAAm network resulted in super-tough double-network (DN) composite hydrogels, which do not fracture upon loading up to 73 MPa and a strain above 0.98. The compressive strength, swelling behavior, and morphology of the silica-grafted DN hydrogels were investigated as functions of nanoparticle content and particle size, in comparison with silica nanoparticle-filled DN gels without covalent bonding to the polymer network. Maximal reinforcement of the DN gels was achieved at around 1 wt% (weight percent) of grafted silica nanoparticles with respect to AMPS. Unique embedded micro-network structures were observed in the silica-grafted DN gels and accounted for the substantial improvement in compressive toughness. The fracture mechanism is discussed in detail based on the yielding behavior of these covalently composited hydrogels.

Fabrication and characterization of nanostructured titania films with integrated function from inorganic–organic hybrid materials

Nanostructured titania films are of growing interest due to their application in future photovoltaic technologies. Therefore, a lot of effort has been put into the controlled fabrication and tailoring of titania nanostructures. The controlled sol-gel synthesis of titania, in particular in combination with block copolymer templates, is very promising because of its high control on the nanostructure, easy application and cheap processing possibilities. This tutorial review gives a short overview of the structural control of titania films gained by using templated sol-gel chemistry and shows how this approach is extended by the addition of further functionality to the films. Different expansions of the sol-gel templating are possible by the fabrication of gradient samples, by the addition of a homopolymer, by the combination with micro-fluidics and also by the application of novel precursors for low-temperature processing. Moreover, hierarchically structured titania films can be fabricated via the subsequent application of several sol-gel steps or via the inclusion of colloidal templates in a one-step process. Integrated function in the block copolymer used in the sol-gel synthesis allows for the fabrication of an integrated blocking layer or an integrated hole-conductor. Both approaches grant a one-step fabrication of two components of a working solar cell, which make them very promising towards a cheap solar cell production route. Looking to the complete solar cell, the top contact is also of great importance as it influences the function of the whole solar cell. Thus, the mechanisms acting in the top contact formation are also reviewed. For all these aspects, characterization techniques that allow for a structural investigation of nanostructures inside the active layers are important. Therefore, the characterization techniques that are used in real space as well as in reciprocal space are explained shortly as well.

Surface modification of an Mg-1Ca alloy to slow down its biocorrosion by chitosan

The surface morphologies before and after immersion corrosion test of various chitosan-coated Mg-1Ca alloy samples were studied to investigate the effect of chitosan dip coating on the slowdown of biocorrosion. It showed that the corrosion resistance of the Mg-Ca alloy increased after coating with chitosan, and depended on both the chitosan molecular weight and layer numbers of coating. The Mg-Ca alloy coated by chitosan with a molecular weight of 2.7 x 10(5) for six layers has smooth and intact surface morphology, and exhibits the highest corrosion resistance in a simulated body fluid.

In situ formation of silver nanoparticles in photocrosslinking polymers

Nanocomposites of cross-linked methacrylate polymers with silver nanoparticles have been synthesized by coupling photoinitiated free radical polymerization of dimethacrylates with in situ silver ion reduction. A polymerizable methacrylate bearing a secondary amino functional group was used to increase the solubility of the silver salt in the hydrophobic resin system. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that the silver ion reduction had no significant effect on the degree of vinyl conversion of the methacrylate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements showed an increased silver concentration at the composite surface compared to the expected concentration based on the total amount of silver salt added. Furthermore, the surface silver concentration leveled off when the silver salt mass fractions were 0.08% or greater. Composites with low concentrations of silver salt (< 0.08% by mass) exhibited comparable mechanical properties to those containing no silver. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that the silver nanoparticles formed within the polymer matrix were nanocrystalline in nature and primarily ≈ 3 nm in diameter, with some large particle aggregates. Composites containing silver nanoparticles were shown to reduce bacterial colonization with as little as 0.03% (by mass) silver salt, while additional amounts of silver salt did not further decrease their surface colonization. With a substantial effect on bacterial growth and minimal effects on mechanical properties, the in situ formation of silver nanoparticles within methacrylate materials is a promising technique for synthesizing antibacterial nanocomposites for biomedical applications.

Magnetic nanohydroxyapatite/PVA composite hydrogels for promoted osteoblast adhesion and proliferation

This paper reports on the systematic investigation of novel magnetic nano-hydroxyapatite/PVA composite hydrogels through cyclic freeze-thawing with controllable structure, mechanical properties, and cell adhesion and proliferation properties. The content of the magnetic nano-hydroxyapatite-coated γ-Fe(2)O(3) (m-nHAP) particles exhibited remarkable influence on the porous structures and compressive strength of the nanocomposite hydrogels. The average pore diameter of the nanocomposite hydrogels exhibited a minimum of 1.6 ± 0.3 μm whereas the compressive strength reached a maximum of about 29.6 ± 6.5 MPa with the m-nHAP content of around 10 wt% in the nanocomposite hydrogels. In order to elucidate the influence of the composite m-nHAP on the cell adhesion and proliferation on the composite hydrogels, the PVA, γ-Fe(2)O(3)/PVA, nHAP/PVA and m-nHAP/PVA hydrogels were seeded and cultured with osteoblasts. The results demonstrated that the osteoblasts preferentially adhered to and proliferated on the m-nHAP/PVA hydrogels, in comparison to the PVA and nHAP/PVA hydrogels, whereas the γ-Fe(2)O(3)/PVA hydrogels appeared most favorable to the osteoblasts. Moreover, with the increasing m-nHAP content in the composite hydrogels, the adhesion density and proliferation of the osteoblasts were significantly promoted, especially at the content of around 50 wt%.

Tough nanocomposite double network hydrogels reinforced with clay nanorods through covalent bonding and reversible chain adsorption

Polymer hydrogels with superior strength and toughness are potential candidate materials for the replacement or engineering of load-bearing tissues. This manuscript reports novel tough nanocomposite hydrogels with an unusual energy dissipation mechanism based on both covalent and physical interactions between clay nanorods and polymer chains. Attapulgite (ATP) nanorods grafted with vinyl groups on the surface served as macro-crosslinkers to copolymerize with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-sulfonic acid (AMPS) to form an initial nanocomposite network, which subsequently hosted the polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) monomers to generate a novel nanocomposite double network (DN) hydrogel. The morphology, swelling behavior and compressive properties of the ATP-grafted DN hydrogels were investigated as a function of ATP content (CATP), in comparison with the ATP-filled DN gels. With a clay content between 0.1 wt% and 1.0 wt%, the nanocomposite hydrogels did not fracture up to a compressive strain of 98%, exhibiting an initial modulus (E) up to 0.36 MPa, a compressive strength higher than 65.7 MPa, and a work to fracture (or fracture energy) higher than 2.6 MJ m-3, in comparison to 0.19 MPa, 18.6 MPa, and 1.1 MJ m-3 for the conventional DN gels. Cyclic loading-unloading tests showed abnormal residual energy dissipation even though the rigid PAMPS network had fractured. Such viscous energy dissipation decayed during cyclic loading, and could be restored depending on time and temperature. This is related to the reversible desorption-re-adsorption of polymer chains from the clay surface. Possible reinforcing and fracture mechanisms are discussed.

A novel amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on immobilized Hb in Pluronic P123-nanographene platelets composite

In this paper, an amperometric biosensor of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) was fabricated by immobilization of Hemoglobin (Hb) on a Pluronic P123-nanographene platelet (NGP) composite. Direct electron transfer in the Hb-immobilized P123-NGP composite film was greatly facilitated. The surface concentration (Γ*) and apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k(s)) were calculated to be (1.60±0.17)×10(-10) mol cm(-2) and 48.51 s(-1), respectively. In addition, the Hb/Pluronic P123-NGP composite showed excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of H(2)O(2). The biosensor of H(2)O(2) exhibited a linear response to H(2)O(2) in the range of 10-150 μM and a detection limit of 8.24 μM (S/N=3) was obtained. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)(app)) was 45.35 μM. The resulting biosensor showed fast amperometric response, with very high sensitivity, reliability and effectiveness.

Effects of filler type and content on mechanical properties of photopolymerizable composites measured across two-dimensional combinatorial arrays.

Multicomponent formulations coupled with complex processing conditions govern the final properties of photopolymerizable dental composites. In this study, a single test substrate was fabricated to support multiple formulations with a gradient in degree of conversion (DC), allowing the evaluation of multiple processing conditions and formulations on one specimen. Mechanical properties and damage response were evaluated as a function of filler type/content and irradiation. DC, surface roughness, modulus, hardness, scratch deformation and cytotoxicity were quantified using techniques including near-infrared spectroscopy, laser confocal scanning microscopy, depth-sensing indentation, scratch testing and cell viability. Scratch parameters (depth, width, percent recovery) were correlated to composite modulus and hardness. Total filler content, nanofiller and irradiation time/intensity all affected the final properties, with the dominant factor for improved properties being a higher DC. This combinatorial platform accelerates the screening of dental composites through the direct comparison of properties and processing conditions across the same sample.

Self-Templating Construction of 3D Hierarchical Macro-/Mesoporous Silicon from 0D Silica Nanoparticles

Porous silicon has found wide applications in many different fields including catalysis and lithium-ion batteries. Three-dimensional hierarchical macro-/mesoporous silicon is synthesized from zero-dimensional Stöber silica particles through a facile and scalable magnesiothermic reduction process. By systematic structure characterization of the macro-/mesoporous silicon, a self-templating mechanism governing the formation of the porous silicon is proposed. Applications as lithium-ion battery anode and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution catalyst are demonstrated. It is found that the macro-/mesoporous silicon shows significantly improved cyclic and rate performance over the commercial nanosized and micrometer-sized silicon particles. After 300 cycles at 0.2 A g-1, the reversible specific capacity is still retained as much as 959 mAh g-1 with a high mass loading density of 1.4 mg cm-2. With the large current density of 2 A g-1, a reversible capacity of 632 mAh g-1 is exhibited. The coexistence of both macro- and mesoporous structures is responsible for the enhanced performance. The macro-/mesoporous silicon also shows superior catalytic performance for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution compared to the silicon nanoparticles.