Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on aerobic denitrifying bacteria Enterobacter cloacae strain HNR.

The aerobic denitrification process is a promising and cost-effective alternative to the conventional nitrogen removal process. Widely used ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) will inevitably reach wastewater treatment plants, and cause adverse impacts on aerobic denitrification and nitrogen removal. Therefore, a full understanding of the responses and adaption of aerobic denitrifiers to ZnO NPs is essential to develop effective strategies to reduce adverse effects on wastewater treatment.

Control of osteoblast cells adhesion and spreading by microcontact printing of extracellular matrix protein patterns.

In this study, we report a simple method for creating extracellular matrix (ECM) protein patterns to control osteoblast cell adhesion and spreading. The fibronectin patterns are directly produced on polystyrene (PS) surfaces by microcontact printing (μCP). Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images show that protein patterns are successfully fabricated on PS surfaces.

Enhancing the antibacterial activity of biomimetic HA coatings by incorporation of norvancomycin.

Background: Bacterial infections associated with the use of biomaterials remain a great challenge for orthopedic surgery. The main purpose of the work discussed in this paper was to improve the antibacterial activity of a biomimetic calcium phosphate (CP) coating widely used in orthopedic biomaterials by incorporation of norvancomycin in the biomimetic process.

Methods: CP coating and CP coating containing norvancomycin were produced on a titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) surface by a biomimetic process.