Evaluation of nano-biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics for bone tissue engineering applications: in vitro and preliminary in vivo studies.

Reconstruction of critical sized bone injuries is a major problem that continues to inspire the design of new materials and grafts. Natural ceramics (hydroxyapatite (HA) coralline HA, or synthetic HA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) are being explored for use as scaffolds in bone tissue engineering, among several other materials. The present study evaluated the bone forming capacity of nanosize bioceramics synthesized in situ in poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) with different ratios of HA and β-TCP; the Ca/P ratio was 1.

A novel biomimetic material--glycine-PVA ferrofluid that crosses the blood-brain barrier.

The present study describes the efficacy of the glycine-poly(vinyl)alcohol ferrofluid as a contrast enhancer for Magnetic resonance imaging. Interaction between inorganic minerals and biomolecules are extremely unique and interesting. The results demonstrate that ferro fluids can be a good contrast enhancer for Magnetic Resonance Imaging as seen in the very first results after MRI studies.

Microwave irradiation enhances kinetics of the biomimetic process of hydroxyapatite nanocomposites.

In situ synthesized hydroxyapatite-poly(vinyl) alcohol nanocomposite was subjected to microwave irradiation, post synthesis. Interestingly, the aging time of 1 week required for the normal biomimetic process was reduced to 1 h post microwave irradiation, as characterized by x-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The surface topography shows the tendency of tubules to cross-link with the help of microwave energy.

Non-destructive evaluation of mechanical properties of poly (vinyl) alcohol-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites.

Hydroxyapatite-poly (vinyl) alcohol nanocomposite powder was synthesized using varying poly (vinyl) alcohol concentrations. The dried powder was compacted into micro-porous disks at a load of 4 tons. The disks were sintered at 1200 degrees C to evolve porous nanocomposites.

Composition dependent structural modulations in transparent poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels.

Transparent and stable Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels were synthesized from polymer aqueous solution without resorting to a mixed solvent such as dimethyl sulfoxide and water. Contrary to the reported methods involving hydrogen bond induced physical crosslinking by repeated freeze-thawing at -20 degrees C, the present process demonstrates the gelation taking place at relatively higher temperature, i.e.

Mesenchymal cell response to nanosized biphasic calcium phosphate composites.

Biphasic calcium phosphate nanoparticles comprising both hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta polymorph of tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) have been synthesized together by a polymer matrix mediated process. The process, based on in situ mineralization of poly (vinyl alcohol), exerts a good control over the morphological features of biphasic nanoparticles. By controlling the reaction chemistry (Ca:P ratios), nanobioceramic particles having three different HA/beta-TCP ratios of 50:50, 55:45 and 60:40 respectively.