Fabrication of Antheraea pernyi Silk Fibroin-Based Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Nanofibers for Colon Cancer Cell Culture

Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin (ASF)-based nanofibers have wide potential for biomaterial applications due to superior biocompatibility. It is not clear whether the ASF-based nanofibers scaffold can be used as an in vitro cancer cell culture platform. In the current study, we fabricated novel ASF-based thermoresponsive hydrogel nanofibers by aqueous electrospinning for colon cancer (LoVo) cells culture. ASF was reacted with allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) for the preparation of allyl silk fibroin (ASF-AGE), which provided the possibility of copolymerization with allyl monomer. The investigation of ASF-AGE structure by 1H NMR revealed that reactive allyl groups were successfully linked with ASF. ASF-based thermoresponsive hydrogel nanofibers (p (ASF-AGE-NIPAAm)) were successfully manufactured by aqueous electrospinning with the polymerization of ASF and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm). The p (ASF-AGE-NIPAAm) spinning solution showed good spinnability with the increase of polymerization time, and uniform nanofibers were formed at the polymerization time of 360 min. The obtained hydrogel nanofibers exhibited good thermoresponsive that the LCST was similar with PNIPAAm at about 32 °C, and good degradability in protease XIV PBS solution. In addition, the cytocompatibility of colon cancer (LoVo) cells cultured in hydrogel nanofibers was assessed. It was demonstrated that LoVo cells grown on hydrogel nanofibers showed improved cell adhesion, proliferation, and viability than those on hydrogel. The results suggest that the p (ASF-AGE-NIPAAm) hydrogel nanofibers have potential application in LoVo cells culture in vitro. This study demonstrates the feasibility of fabricating ASF-based nanofibers to culture LoVo cancer cells that can potentially be used as an in vitro cancer cell culture platform.

Effect of Polymerization Time on Residual Monomer Release in Dental Composite: In Vitro Study

Light activated resin-based composites are the most accepted and used materials among clinicians. The aim of this study is to determine the amount of residual monomer released from nanofiller composite resins for different polymerization times and storage periods in vitro. To this purpose, Tetric Ceram (Ivoclar, Liechtenstein), Clearfil Majesty Posterior (Kuraray, Japan), Grandio (VOCO, Germany), and Filtek Ultimate Universal (3M, USA) were used as nanofiller resin composites samples. Four groups ( n = 40 , diameter: 5 mm, thickness: 2 mm) of each material were fabricated, and each group was exposed to three different polymerization time (10, 20 and 40 sec). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure the amount of monomers released over 1, 15, and 30 days. The highest amount of monomer release was seen in Tetric EvoCream composite, while the least monomer release was seen in Clearfil Majesty composite. Regardless of the polymerization time, material, or storage period, the highest amount of eluted monomer was Bis-GMA. It is observed that there is no statistically significant difference between various polymerization times. Monomer release reached its highest level on the 15th day and decreased on the 30th day for all composites. Polymerization time did not affect the monomer release from the composites, but the type of the monomers and concentration of the filler used in the composites affected the amount of released monomers. The use of TEGDMA (co)monomer reduced the monomer release.

Effect of Polymerization Time on the Binding Properties of Ciprofloxacin-Imprinted nanoMIPs Prepared by Solid-Phase Synthesis

An innovative approach to imprinted nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) is represented by solid-phase synthesis. Since the polymeric chains grow over time and rearrange themselves around the template, the binding properties of nanoMIPs could depend on the polymerization time. Here we present an explorative study about the effect of different polymerization times on the binding properties of ciprofloxacin-imprinted nanoMIPs. The binding properties towards ciprofloxacin were studied by measuring the binding affinity constants (Keq) and the kinetic rate constants (kd, ka). Furthermore, selectivity and nonspecific binding were valued by measuring the rebinding of levofloxacin onto ciprofloxacin-imprinted nanoMIPs and ciprofloxacin onto diclofenac-imprinted nanoMIPs, respectively. The results show that different polymerization times produce nanoMIPs with different binding properties: short polymerization times (15 min) produced nanoMIPs with high binding affinity but low selectivity (Keq > 107 mol L−1, α ≈ 1); medium polymerization times (30 min–2 h) produced nanoMIPs with high binding affinity and selectivity (Keq ≥ 106 mol L−1, α < 1); and long polymerization times (>2 h) produced nanoMIPs with low binding affinity, fast dissociation kinetics and low selectivity (Keq ≤ 106 mol L−1, kdis > 0.2 min−1, α ≈ 1). The results can be explained as the combined effect of rearrangement and progressive stiffening of the polymer chains around the template molecules.

Hardness of Resin Cements Polymerized through Glass-Ceramic Veneers

(1) Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the hardness of resin cements polymerized through ceramic disks under different process factors (ceramic type and thickness, light-polymerization units and polymerization time); (2) Method: Three types of ceramic blocks were used (IPS e.max CAD; Celtra Duo; VITABLOCS). Ceramic disks measuring 0.5 mm, 1.0 mm and 1.5 mm were cut from commercial blocks. Two resin cements (Rely X Veneer and Variolink Esthetic) were polymerized through the ceramic specimens using distinct light-polymerization units (Deep-cure; Blue-phase) and time intervals (10 and 20 s). Hardness of cement specimens was measured using microhardness tester with a Knoop indenter. Data were statistically analyzed using factorial ANOVA (α = 5%); (3) Results: Mean microhardness of Rely X Veneer cement was significantly higher than that of Variolink Esthetic. Deep-cure resulted in higher mean microhardness values compared to Blue-phase at 0.5- and 1-mm specimen thicknesses. Moreover, a direct correlation was found between polymerization time and hardness of resin cement; (4) Conclusions: Surface hardness was affected by resin cement type and ceramic thickness, and not affected by ceramic types, within evaluated conditions. Increasing light-polymerization time significantly increased the hardness of the cement.

Effects of temperature alteration on viscosity, polymerization, and in-vivo arterial distribution of N-butyl cyanoacrylate-iodized oil mixtures

Purpose Temperature alteration can modify the polymerization of n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA)-iodized oil mixtures during vascular embolization; its effects on viscosity, polymerization time, and intra-arterial distribution of the NBCA-iodized oil mixture were investigated. Materials and methods In vitro, the viscosities of NBCA, iodized oil, and NBCA-iodized oil mixtures (ratio, 1:1–8) were measured at 4–60 ºC using a rotational rheometer. The polymerization times (from contact with blood plasma to stasis) were recorded at 0–60 ºC using a high-speed video camera. In vivo, the 1:2 mixture was injected into rabbit renal arteries at 0, 20, and 60 ºC; intra-arterial distribution of the mixture was pathologically evaluated. Results The mixtures’ viscosities decreased as temperature increased; those at 60 ºC were almost four to five times lower than those at 4 ºC. The polymerization time of NBCA and the 1:1–4 mixtures increased as temperature decreased in the 0–30 ºC range; the degree of time prolongation increased as the percentage of iodized oil decreased. The 0 ºC group demonstrated distributions of the mixture within more peripheral arterial branches than the 20 and 60 ºC groups. Conclusion Warming reduces the mixture’s viscosity; cooling prolongs polymerization. Both can be potential factors to improve the handling of NBCA-iodized oil mixtures for lesions requiring peripheral delivery. Secondary abstract Temperature alteration influences the polymerization time, viscosity, and intra-arterial distribution of NBCA-iodized oil mixtures. Warming reduces the viscosity of the mixture, while cooling prolongs polymerization.

Synthesis of Poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) Copolymer: Structure, Toughness, and Elasticity

Biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymers have drawn considerable attention because of their mechanical properties that mimic human soft tissue. Poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL), the copolymer of L-lactic (LA) and ε-caprolactone (CL), has been applied in many tissue engineering and regenerative medicine fields. However, both the synthesis of PLCL and the structure-activity relationship of the copolymer need to be further investigated to allow tuning of different mechanical properties. The synthesis conditions of PLCL were optimized to increase the yield and improve the copolymer properties. The synthetic process was evaluated by while varying the molar ratio of the monomers and polymerization time. The mechanical properties of the copolymer were investigated from the macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. Changes in the polymerization time and feed ratio resulted in the difference in the LA and CL content, which, in turn, caused the PLCL to exhibit different properties. The PLCL obtained with a feed ratio of 1:1 (LA:CL) and a polymerization time of 30 h has the best toughness and elasticity. The developed PLCL may have applications in dynamic mechanical environment, such as vascular tissue engineering.

Insight into the influence of the polymerization time of polydopamine nanoparticles on their size, surface properties and nanomedical applications

In the last decade, novel strategies to synthesize polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) are continuously arousing due to the great applications that this synthetic melanin analog has in the nanotechnological field....

Resistência à compressão de compósitos de preenchimento único

A new class of composite resins called single fill resins (Bulk-Fill) was proposed to simplify restorative procedures. They allow filling dental cavities in layers of approximately 4mm. This study aims to compare the compression strength of single fill composites with different polymerization times. Four Bulk-Fill composites were used Filtek Bulk-Fill, Filtek Bulk-Fill Flow, Tetric N-Ceram Bulk-Fill, and Tetric N-Flow Bulk-Fill, and also a conventional composite Filtek Z350 XT as a control group. One hundred cylinders were manufactured in a matrix with 4.7mm diameter and 4mm height for Bulk-Fill compounds, and 2mm height for the control group. Half of the specimens of each material was photopolymerized for 10 seconds and the other half for 20 seconds (n = 10). The samples were stored in distilled water for 48 hours at 37°C and subjected to compression testing in a universal test machine. Variance analysis was performed with t-test of multiple comparisons between groups and student t-test for the different polymerization times with significance index p=0.05. The results did not show statistically significant difference in relation to polymerization time. However, there was a statistically significant difference between the control and Filtek Bulk-Fill Flow groups, which presented higher strenght to compression than the Filltek Bulk-Fill, Tetric N-Ceram Bulk-Fill, and Tetric N-Flow Bulk-Fill groups. The type of resin can influence its resistance to fracture. The polymerization time did not have any influence in the materials strength.