Fish Gelatin-Carbohydrate Composite Nanofibers: High-Yield Electrospinning and In Vitro Performance.

Electrospun fish gelatin (FGel) nanofibers (NF) mimic the natural bodies extracellular matrix's (ECM) structure and are an attractive material for many biomedical applications. However, FGel poor mechanical properties and rapid dissolution in an aqueous media paired with usually low productivity of the typical electrospinning process necessitate further effort in overcoming these issues. In this study, alternating field electrospinning (AFES) fabricates cold water fish skin gelatin nanofibrous materials (FGel NFM) with up to 10 wt.

Electrospinning Using AC Electric Fields.

Electrospinning is increasingly used as a staple technology for the fabrication of nano- and micro-fibers of different materials. Most processes utilize direct current (DC) electrospinning, and a multitude of DC-electrospinning tools ranging from research to commercial production systems is currently available. Yet, there are numerous studies performed on electrospinning techniques utilizing non-DC, periodic electric fields, or alternating current (AC) electrospinning.

A Model Procedure for Catalytic Conversion of Waste Cotton into Useful Chemicals.

Cotton is grown in about 90 countries and accounts for 24% of the fibers used in the global production of textiles. In 2018/2019, 25.8 Mt of cotton were produced around the world.

Nanofibrous TiO produced using alternating field electrospinning of titanium alkoxide precursors: crystallization and phase development.

High-yield, free-surface alternating field electrospinning (AFES) was effectively used in the fabrication of titanium oxide nanofibrous materials from the precursors based on titanium alkoxide and a blend of polyvinylpyrrolidone and hydroxypropyl cellulose. The alkoxide/polymer mass ratio in the precursor solution has significant effects on the precursor fiber production rate as well as the structure of resulting TiO nanofibers after thermal processing of precursor fibers at temperatures from 500 to 1000 °C. Within the range of tested process parameters, the best fiber production rate of ∼5.

Fabrication of dual-functional composite yarns with a nanofibrous envelope using high throughput AC needleless and collectorless electrospinning.

Nanotechnologies allow the production of yarns containing nanofibres for use in composites, membranes and biomedical materials. Composite yarns with a conventional thread core for mechanical strength and a nanofibrous envelope for functionality, e.g.

WC-β-SiC Nanocomposite Catalysts Used in Aqueous Phase Hydrogenation of Furfural.

This study investigates the effects of the addition of tungsten on the structure, phase composition, textural properties and activities of β-SiC-based catalysts in the aqueous phase hydrogenation of furfural. Carbothermal reduction of SiO₂ in the presence of WO₃ at 1550 °C in argon resulted in the formation of WC-β-SiC nanocomposite powders with significant variations in particle morphology and content of WC-tipped β-SiC nano-whiskers, as revealed by TEM and SEM-EDS. The specific surface area (SSA) of the nanocomposite strongly depended on the amount of tungsten and had a notable impact on its catalytic properties for the production of furfuryl alcohol (FA) and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA).

Titanium oxide nanoparticle instillation induces inflammation and inhibits lung development in mice.

Nanoparticles are used in an increasing number of biomedical, industrial, and food applications, but their safety profiles in developing organisms, including the human fetus and infant, have not been evaluated. Titanium oxide (TiO(2)) nanoparticles, which are commonly used in cosmetics, sunscreens, paints, and food, have been shown to induce emphysema and lung inflammation in adult mice. We hypothesized that exposure of newborn mice to TiO(2) would induce lung inflammation and inhibit lung development.

Nano-TiO₂ particles impair adhesion of airway epithelial cells to fibronectin.

Titanium dioxide engineered nanoparticles (nano-TiO(2)) are widely used in the manufacturing of a number of products. Due to their size (<100 nm), when inhaled they may be deposited in the distal lung regions and damage Clara cells. We investigated the mechanisms by which short-term (1-h) incubation of human airway Clara-like (H441) cells to nano-TiO(2) (6 nm in diameter) alters the ability of H441 cells to adhere to extracellular matrix.

Sputtered tungsten-based ternary and quaternary layers for nanocrystalline diamond deposition.

Many of today's demanding applications require thin-film coatings with high hardness, toughness, and thermal stability. In many cases, coating thickness in the range 2-20 microm and low surface roughness are required. Diamond films meet many of the stated requirements, but their crystalline nature leads to a high surface roughness.

Nanostructured carbon beads--properties and biomedical applications.

In this study, amorphous carbonaceous nanoparticles were prepared by a simple hydrothermal process using glucose as precursor. The nearly perfect spherical particles (beads) with the dimensions in the range of 10-500 nm were obtained depending on the main process parameters (precursor concentration, temperature, and time). The particles size, surface morphology, structure, and composition have been examined by TEM, SEM, X-ray diffraction, XPS, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.

Mesenchymal stem cell responses to bone-mimetic electrospun matrices composed of polycaprolactone, collagen I and nanoparticulate hydroxyapatite.

The performance of biomaterials designed for bone repair depends, in part, on the ability of the material to support the adhesion and survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this study, a nanofibrous bone-mimicking scaffold was electrospun from a mixture of polycaprolactone (PCL), collagen I, and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles with a dry weight ratio of 50/30/20 respectively (PCL/col/HA). The cytocompatibility of this tri-component scaffold was compared with three other scaffold formulations: 100% PCL (PCL), 100% collagen I (col), and a bi-component scaffold containing 80% PCL/20% HA (PCL/HA).

Tribological properties of undoped and boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond films.

Undoped and boron-doped nanocrystalline (NCD) diamond films were deposited on mirror polished Ti-6Al-4V substrates in a Microwave Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition system. Sliding wear tests were conducted in ambient air with a nanotribometer. A systematic study of the tribological properties for both undoped and boron-doped NCD films were carried out.

Nanomechanical properties of electrospun composite scaffolds based on polycaprolactone and hydroxyapatite.

Fibrous nanocomposite scaffolds were electrospun from dispersions of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nanoHA) in polycaprolactone (PCL) with varying nanoHA contents (from 0% to 50% by weight). Such scaffolds were produced to mimic the nano-features of the extracellular matrix (ECM) for natural bone tissue regeneration. NanoHA was found to be well dispersed in the PCL fibers up to the addition of 30 wt%, whereas beads and agglomeration of HA particles was observed above this nanoHA concentration.

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticle loaded collagen fiber composites: microarchitecture and nanoindentation study.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticle-collagen composite materials with various HA/collagen weight ratios were prepared from HA/collagen dispersions using the solution deposition and electrospinning with static or rotating collectors. The composites with nanoparticle HA to collagen weight ratio of 80:20 can be easily prepared in the solution deposition approach, whereas in the electrospun fibrous composites it was possible to reach a maximum HA/collagen weight ratio of 30:70 while maintaining a good fibrous structure. The structure, surface morphology, and nanoindentation properties of these nanoparticle HA/collagen composites with different microarchitectures were investigated.

Preliminary tribological evaluation of nanostructured diamond coatings against ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

Background: Some loss of joint prostheses has been attributed to osteolytic loosening associated with debris from wear of polyethylene articulating against metal alloys. Reduced polyethylene wear has been reported with ceramics serving as an alternative counterface.

Methods: Nanostructured Diamond (NSD) coatings were deposited onto Ti6Al4V by microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition, with both hydrogen-rich (H-NSD) and helium-rich (He-NSD) feedgas mixtures.

Synthesis of complex shape gold nanoparticles in water-methanol mixtures.

Gold nanoparticles with shapes which varied from spheres to multipods and polygons were prepared with a seedless approach in water/methanol mixtures in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol using sodium ascorbate as the reducing agent. The shape of Au nanoparticles is critically affected by the water/methanol ratio, as well as by the ratio of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (HAuCl4) to sodium ascorbate and the concentration of HAuCl4 in the reaction mixture. A decreased ratio of water to methanol below 30/70 leads to the formation of multi-branched nanoparticles with the size in the range of 30-70 nm at relatively low HAuCl4 concentration, whereas polygons are formed when HAuCl4 concentration increases.