Publications by authors named "Masanobu Kamitakahara"

Selenium, a crucial trace element for many organisms, including prokaryotes and humans, is toxic at high concentrations, necessitating its removal from wastewater. This study investigates the use of jarosite, a naturally occurring iron sulfate mineral with excellent heavy metal attenuation properties, for selenate (Se(VI)) removal for the first time. Biogenic jarosite was synthesized through Fe(II) oxidation by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans at an initial pH ranging from 1.

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Novel calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) that can be resorbed into the human body need to be developed. One approach for improving bioresorbability is reducing the content of calcium phosphate in CPCs; however, this may induces difficulties in setting the cement and increases the risk of decay. Adding bioresorbable polymers to a liquid solution can shorten the setting time and inhibit decay during setting.

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Among the CaCO polymorphs, aragonite demonstrates a better performance as a filler material in the paper and plastic industries. Despite being ideal from the environmental protection perspective, the production of aragonite particles via CO mineralization of rocks is hindered by the difficulty in achieving high production efficiencies and purities, which, however, can be mitigated by exploiting the potential ability of chelating agents on metal ions extraction and carbonation controlling. Herein, chelating agent N,N-dicarboxymethyl glutamic acid (GLDA) was used to enhance the extraction of Ca from calcium silicate and facilitate the production of aragonite particles during the subsequent Ca carbonation.

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Octacalcium phosphate (OCP; Ca(HPO)(PO) ∙ 5HO) is a precursor of hydroxyapatite found in human bones and teeth, and is among the inorganic substances critical for hard tissue formation and regeneration in the human body. OCP has a layered structure and can incorporate carboxylate ions into its interlayers. However, studies involving the incorporation of tetracarboxylic and multivalent (pentavalent and above) carboxylic acids into OCP have not yet been reported.

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The adhesion behavior of microorganisms on different materials was examined to obtain basic knowledge for designing support materials for microorganisms. The microorganisms were isolated from soil, and their adhesion behavior on hydroxyapatite (HA), carbon-coated HA (Carbon), poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC), and polyurethane (PU) pellets was investigated. The total metabolic activity on and adherence of microorganisms to the tested materials were in the following order: HA > Carbon > PVC > PU.

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The implantation of biomaterials induces a granulomatous reaction accompanied by foreign body giant cells (FBGCs). The characterization of multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs) around bone substitutes implanted in bone defects is more complicated because of healing with bone admixed with residual bone substitutes and their hybrid, and the appearance of two kinds of MNGCs, osteoclasts and FBGCs. Furthermore, the clinical significance of osteoclasts and FBGCs in the healing of implanted regions remains unclear.

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Unlabelled: Foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) and osteoclasts are multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs), both of which are formed by the fusion of macrophage-derived mononuclear cells. Osteoclasts are distinct from FBGCs due to their bone resorption ability; however, not only morphological, but also functional similarities may exist between these cells. The characterization and diversity of FBGCs that appear in an in vivo foreign body reaction currently remain incomplete.

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In addition to calcium phosphate-based ceramics, glass-based materials have been utilized as bone substitutes, and silicate in these materials has been suggested to contribute to their ability to stimulate bone repair. In this study, a silicate-containing α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) ceramic was prepared using a wet chemical process. Porous granules composed of silicate-containing α-TCP, for which the starting composition had a molar ratio of 0.

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Spherical porous granules of hydroxyapatite (HA) containing magnetic nanoparticles would be suitable for the hyperthermia treatment of bone tumor, because porous HA granules act as a scaffold for bone regeneration, and magnetic nanoparticles generate sufficient heat to kill tumor cells under an alternating magnetic field. Although magnetic nanoparticles are promising heat generators, their small size makes them difficult to support in porous HA ceramics. We prepared micrometer-sized composites of magnetic and HA nanoparticles, and then supported them in porous HA granules composed of rod-like particles.

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Optimum design of support materials for microorganisms is required for the construction of bioreactors. However, the effects of support materials on microorganisms are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the adhesion behavior of Escherichia coli (E.

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Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) is composed of apatitic and hydrated layers, and can incorporate dicarboxylate ions in its hydrated layers by substitution of HPO4(2-). The (100) interplanar spacing of OCP is increased by incorporation of dicarboxylate ions. Herein, we report continuous expansion of the interplanar spacing of OCP by incorporation of dicarboxylate ions with a side chain.

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Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) is regarded as an in vivo precursor of hydroxyapatite (HA). It is important to understand the mechanism of transformation of OCP to HA in order to reveal the mechanism of mineralization and help in the development of artificial bone-repairing materials. Herein, we have examined the behavior of OCP in a simulated body fluid (SBF) and pure water.

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We compared the healing of bone defects in ovariectomized rats implanted with beta-tricalcium phosphate (b-TCP)composed of rod-shaped particles, which were prepared using the applied hydrothermal method (HTCP), and that of bone defects implanted with conventional b-TCP composed of globular-shaped particles (CTCP), which were prepared by normal sintering. Eight week-old female Wistar rats were ovariectomized, and 2 weeks after the operation, 0.5- to 0.

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The biological activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts is regulated not only by hormones but also by local growth factors, which are expressed in neighbouring cells or included in bone matrix. Previously, we developed hydroxyapatite (HA) composed of rod-shaped particles using applied hydrothermal methods (HHA), and it revealed mild biodegradability and potent osteoclast homing activity. Here, we compared serum proteins adsorbed to HHA with those adsorbed to conventional HA composed of globular-shaped particles (CHA).

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In designing the biomaterials, it is important to control their surface morphologies, because they affect the interactions between the materials and cells. We previously reported that porous calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics composed of rod-like particles had advantages over sintered porous HA ceramics; however, the effects of the surface morphology of calcium-deficient HA ceramics on cell behavior have remained unclear. Using a hydrothermal process, we successfully prepared porous calcium-deficient HA ceramics with different surface morphologies, composed of plate-like particles of 200-300, 500-800 nm, or 2-3 μm in width and rod-like particles of 1 or 3-5 μm in width, respectively.

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Spherical Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite (HA) granules are expected to be useful drug carriers in bony sites because of their bone regeneration and adsorption ability. In order to control drug loading and release ability of the granules, a controlled surface microstructure was constructed. Spherical Ca-deficient granules composed of micron-sized rod-shaped particles were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) granules, and then, submicron HA particles were precipitated on the obtained granules by immersion in a supersaturated calcium phosphate (CP) solution.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of mechanical unloading on the repair of bone defects with implantation of biodegradable bone substitutes. Spherical granules of biodegradable hydroxyapatite composed of rod-shaped particles (RHA) or beta-tricalcium phosphate composed of rod-shaped particles (RTCP) were implanted into a bone defect created in the distal end of the right femur of 8-week-old Wistar rats. Two, 6, 10, and 22 weeks after implantation, part of the sciatic nerve in the thigh was resected and exposed to mechanical unloading for 2 weeks.

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Nanosized porous hydroxyapatite (HA) granules are expected to be useful as DNA and drug carriers for cells. We attempted to synthesize nanosized HA granules in an agarose gel by electrophoresis of calcium and phosphate ions. Wells were prepared on an agarose gel, and a CaCl(2) solution was placed in the wells on the positive side and a Na(2)HPO(4) solution was placed in the wells on the negative side.

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Octacalcium phosphates (OCPs) co-incorporated with various molar ratios of succinate and suberate ions were synthesized by wet processing. The interplanar spacings of the (100) planes (d(100)) of OCPs formed in the presence of succinic acid (Suc) or suberic acid (Sub) were larger than those of OCPs formed without addition of a dicarboxylic acid to the reaction solvent. The increases in the interplanar spacings of the (100) planes were caused by substitution of HPO(4)(2-) by dicarboxylate ions.

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Preparation of colloidal hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles under body fluid conditions was investigated with focusing on the effect of preparative conditions on crystallinity of the resulting particles. Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane was added to 1.5SBF (a solution having 1.

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A polymeric percutaneous device with good biocompatibility and resistance to bacterial infection is required clinically. In this study, a fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2)-hydroxyapatite (HAp) composite layer (FHAp layer) was formed on the surfaces of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) specimens using a coating process in a supersaturated calcium phosphate solution supplemented with FGF-2. FGF-2 in the FHAp layer retained its biological activity to promote proliferation of fibroblasts.

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Alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) ceramic is a bioresorbable material that degrades in bone tissue after implantation, since it exhibits higher solubility than beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) ceramics. The high solubility of alpha-TCP in an aqueous solution causes its transformation into hydroxyapatite (HAp) through hydrolysis. While one expects the formation of hydroxyapatite after exposure to an aqueous solution mimicking a body environment, we occasionally find variation in HAp formation in the simulated body fluid (SBF).

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The osteoconduction potential of artificial materials is usually evaluated in vitro by apatite formation in a simulated body fluid (SBF) proposed by Kokubo and his colleagues. This paper reports the compositional dependence of apatite formation on organic-inorganic hybrids in the CaO-SiO(2)-PO(5/2)-poly(tetramethylene oxide) system, initiated from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), triethyl phosphate (OP(OEt)(3)), calcium chloride (CaCl(2)) and poly(tetramethylene oxide)(PTMO) modified with alkoxysilane. Formation of an apatite layer was observed on the surface of the organic-inorganic hybrids with molar ratios of TEOS/OP(OEt)(3) ranging from 100/0 to 20/80.

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Biomimetic mineralization of supramolecular scaffolds consisting of biomolecules or their analogues has received much attention recently from the viewpoint of creation of novel biomaterials. This study investigated biomimetic deposition of hydroxyapatite (HAp) on cerasomes, morphologically stable organic-inorganic hybrid vesicles. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the pristine cerasomes induced heterogeneous nucleation of HAp when they were immersed in 1.

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A simulated body fluid (SBF) with ion concentrations similar to body fluid, proposed by Kokubo et al., is widely used to evaluate bone-bonding potential through the formation of an apatite layer. To be confident of the evaluation of the potential for the apatite formation in SBF, standard substrates are required.

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