Influence of Metal Ions on the Melting Temperature, Modulus, and Gelation Time of Gelatin Gels: Specific Ion Effects on Hydrogel Properties.

The impact of ions on hydrogel strength is not well understood, in particular with regards to specific ion effects for cations. Herein, we find that divalent and monovalent cations in most cases reduce the modulus and melting temperature while increasing the gelation time of gelatin hydrogels. This behavior is in contrast to the well-known stiffening effect of trivalent metals.

Calcium-Phosphate-Osteopontin Particles Reduce Biofilm Formation and pH Drops in in situ Grown Dental Biofilms.

This 2-period crossover study investigated the effect of calcium-phosphate-osteopontin particles on biofilm formation and pH in 48-h biofilms grown in situ. Bovine milk osteopontin is a highly phosphorylated glycoprotein that has been shown to interfere with bacterial adhesion to salivary-coated surfaces. Calcium-phosphate-osteopontin particles have been shown to reduce biofilm formation and pH drops in a 5-species laboratory model of dental biofilm without affecting bacterial viability.

Apatite Formation from Amorphous Calcium Phosphate and Mixed Amorphous Calcium Phosphate/Amorphous Calcium Carbonate.

Crystallization from amorphous phases is an emerging pathway for making advanced materials. Biology has made use of amorphous precursor phases for eons and used them to produce structures with remarkable properties. Herein, we show how the design of the amorphous phase greatly influences the nanocrystals formed therefrom.

Modification of bone-like apatite nanoparticle size and growth kinetics by alizarin red S.

The formation of nanocrystals in biomineralization such as in bone occurs under the influence of organic molecules. Prompted by this fact, the effect of alizarin red S, a dye used in in vivo bone labeling methods, on bone-like carbonated apatite nanocrystal formation was investigated as a function of alizarin red S additive concentration. The obtained nanoparticles were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR as well thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) while the kinetics of nanoparticle formation was investigated by in situ pH and synchrotron XRD measurements.