Enzymatically Driven Mineralization of a Calcium-Polyphosphate Bleaching Gel.

To examined alkaline phosphatase enzyme (ALP) activity and the effects of incorporating it in the thickener solution of a hydrogen-peroxide-based bleaching gel containing calcium-polyphosphate (CaPP) on the orthophosphate (PO) levels, bleaching effectiveness, and enamel microhardness. ALP activity was assessed at different pH levels and HO concentrations, and in HO- and Tris-based thickeners. Circular dichroism (CD) was used to examine the ALP secondary structure in water-, Tris-, or HO-based mediums.

Functionalization of breast implants by cyclodextrin polymerization: a local drug delivery system for augmentation mammaplasty.

Mammaplasty is a widely performed surgical procedure worldwide, utilized for breast reconstruction, in the context of breast cancer treatment, and aesthetic purposes. To enhance post-operative outcomes and reduce risks (hematoma with required evacuation, capsular contracture, implant-associated infection and others), the controlled release of medicaments can be achieved using drug delivery systems based on cyclodextrins (CDs). In this study, our objective was to functionalize commercially available silicone breast implants with smooth and textured surfaces through polymerization of two CDs: β-CD/citric acid and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD/citric acid.

Biomolecule-mimetic nanomaterials for photothermal and photodynamic therapy of cancers: Bridging nanobiotechnology and biomedicine.

Nanomaterial-based phototherapy has become an important research direction for cancer therapy, but it still to face some obstacles, such as the toxic side effects and low target specificity. The biomimetic synthesis of nanomaterials using biomolecules is a potential strategy to improve photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) techniques due to their endowed biocompatibility, degradability, low toxicity, and specific targeting. This review presents recent advances in the biomolecule-mimetic synthesis of functional nanomaterials for PTT and PDT of cancers.

Application of Poly-L-Lysine for Tailoring Graphene Oxide Mediated Contact Formation between Lithium Titanium Oxide LTO Surfaces for Batteries.

When producing stable electrodes, polymeric binders are highly functional materials that are effective in dispersing lithium-based oxides such as LiTiO (LTO) and carbon-based materials and establishing the conductivity of the multiphase composites. Nowadays, binders such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are used, requiring dedicated recycling strategies due to their low biodegradability and use of toxic solvents to dissolve it. Better structuring of the carbon layers and a low amount of binder could reduce the number of inactive materials in the electrode.

Self-assembly study of type I collagen extracted from male Wistar Hannover rat tail tendons.

Background: Collagen, the most abundant protein in the animal kingdom, represents a promising biomaterial for regenerative medicine applications due to its structural diversity and self-assembling complexity. Despite collagen's widely known structural and functional features, the thermodynamics behind its fibrillogenic self-assembling process is still to be fully understood. In this work we report on a series of spectroscopic, mechanical, morphological and thermodynamic characterizations of high purity type I collagen (with a D-pattern of 65 nm) extracted from Wistar Hannover rat tail.

Nonirritant and Cytocompatible Nanoparticles for Topical Antioxidant Treatments.

extract contains antioxidants such as polyphenols, and thus, it has been used as a natural phytochemical antioxidant therapeutic agent. Many of these compounds are insoluble or only partially soluble in water. In this study, we produced a novel aqueous nanoparticle formulation, with an average particle size of 182.

Increased Fibroblast Metabolic Activity of Collagen Scaffolds via the Addition of Propolis Nanoparticles.

Propolis natural extracts have been used since ancient times due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial activities. In this study, we produced scaffolds of type I collagen, extracted from Wistar Hanover rat tail tendons, and impregnated them with propolis nanoparticles (NPs) for applications in regenerative medicine. Our results show that the impregnation of propolis NPs to collagen scaffolds affected the collagen denaturation temperature and tensile strength.

Functionalization of hydrophobic surfaces with antimicrobial peptides immobilized on a bio-interfactant layer.

The design of functionalized polymer surfaces using bioactive compounds has grown rapidly over the past decade within many industries including biomedical, textile, microelectronics, bioprocessing and food packaging sectors. Polymer surfaces such as polystyrene (PS) must be treated using surface activation processes prior to the attachment of bioactive compounds. In this study, a new peptide immobilization strategy onto hydrocarbonaceus polymer surfaces is presented.

Bio-interfactants as double-sided tapes for graphene oxide.

We present a versatile and highly substrate-independent approach for preparing multisandwich layers based on thermally reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) which gets strongly attached by bio-interfactants using a layer-by-layer (LBL) aqueous dipping and rinsing process. The process allows for the deposition of homogeneous ultra-thin films (∼5.5 nm) in distinct surface topographies, thicknesses and compositions by varying the bio-interfactant layer(s).

Biogenic silica-based microparticles obtained as a sub-product of the nanocellulose extraction process from pineapple peels.

Silica in plant tissues has been suggested as a component for enhancing mechanical properties, and as a physical barrier. Pineapples present in their shell and bracts rosette-like microparticles that could be associated to biogenic silica. In this study, we show for the first time that silica-based microparticles are co-purified during the extraction process of nanocellulose from pineapple (Ananas comosus).