Combustion Synthesis of Functionalized Carbonated Boron Nitride Nanoparticles and Their Potential Application in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.

In this research, we developed boron-rich nanoparticles that can be used for boron neutron capture therapy as potential carriers for boron delivery to cancerous tissues. Functionalized carbonated boron nitride nanostructures (CBNs) were successfully synthesized in self-propagating combustion waves in mixtures of high-nitrogen explosives and boron compounds. The products' composition, morphology, and structural features were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen sorption analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

Macrophages as carriers of boron carbide nanoparticles dedicated to boron neutron capture therapy.

Background: The use of cells as carriers for the delivery of nanoparticles is a promising approach in anticancer therapy, mainly due to their natural properties, such as biocompatibility and non-immunogenicity. Cellular carriers prevent the rapid degradation of nanoparticles, improve their distribution, reduce cytotoxicity and ensure selective delivery to the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, we propose the use of phagocytic cells as boron carbide nanoparticle carriers for boron delivery to the tumor microenvironment in boron neutron capture therapy.

Synthesis and Characterization of Boron Carbide Nanoparticles as Potential Boron-Rich Therapeutic Carriers.

Boron carbide is one of the hardest materials in the world which can be synthesized by various methods. The most common one is a carbothermic or magnesiothermic reduction of BO performed at high temperatures, where the obtained powder still requires grinding and purification. The goal of this research is to present the possibility of synthesizing BC nanoparticles from elements via vapor deposition and modifying the morphology of the obtained powders, particularly those synthesized at high temperatures.

Ceramic Matrix Composites Obtained by the Reactive Sintering of Boron Carbide with Intermetallic Compounds from the Ti-Si System.

In this study, we investigated the effect of adding two different intermetallics, TiSi and TiSi, for the preparation of TiB-SiC-BC composites. As part of the research, stoichiometric composites consisting only of two phases TiB and SiC were obtained. The TiB-SiC-BC composites were prepared via pressureless sintering.

Fly Ash from Lignite Combustion as a Filler for Rubber Mixes-Part II: Chemical Valorisation of Fly Ash.

Fly ash (FA) fractions with a particle size of 63 µm < FA < 250 µm obtained by sieve fractionation were used as a partial carbon black (CB) replacement in a rubber mixture based on styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). In order to improve the interactions at the interface between rubber and fractionated ash, at the stage of preparing the rubber mixtures, two different vinyl silanes were added to the system: Vinyltrimethoxysilane (U-611) or Vinyl-tris (2-methoxy-ethoxy) silane (LUVOMAXX VTMOEO DL50), silane with epoxy groups: 3-(glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (U-50) or sulfur functionalized silanes: containing sulfide bridges: Bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)polysulfide silane (Si-266) or mercapto groups: Mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (Dynaslan MTMO). The conducted research confirmed the effectiveness of silanization with selected functional silanes, from the point of view of improving the processing and operational properties of vulcanizates, in which CB is partially replaced with the finest fractions of fly ash.

Fly Ash from Lignite Combustion as a Filler for Rubber Mixes. Part I: Physical Valorization of Fly Ash.

The potential use of fly ash (FA) originating from lignite combustion at the Belchatow Power Plant (Poland) as filler for rubber mixes was evaluated. Samples of fly ash collected from heaps created in different years were compared according to their chemical and phase composition, particle size distribution, and morphology. The sieve fractionation of fly ash results in size fractions of different chemical structures, phase compositions, and morphologies, reflected in changes to their specific surface area, surface energy, and activity in rubber mixes.

Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of Pr-Doped BaCaTiZrO Perovskite Diphasic Ceramics Obtained by the Modified Pechini Method.

The Pr-doped solid solutions from (Ba,Ca)(Ti,Zr)O (BCTZO) system were successfully synthesized using an efficient and low-energy consuming route-the Pechini method combined with the sintering at relatively low temperature (1450 °C). The obtained materials were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dielectric properties were systematically studied.

Alumina-Toughened-Zirconia with Low Wear Rate in Ball-on-Flat Tribological Tests at Temperatures to 500 °C.

An alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ) material, fabricated using a procedure consisting of the common sintering of two different zirconia powders, was tested using the ball-on-disc method in a temperature range between room temperature and 500 °C. Corundum balls were used as a counterpart. The ATZ composite behaviour during tests was compared with that of commonly used α-alumina and tetragonal zirconia sintered samples.

Phenomena Occurring upon the Sintering of a Mixture of Yttria-Zirconia Nanometric Powder and Sub-Micrometric Pure Zirconia Powder.

Mixtures of powders essentially differing in their particle morphology and size were applied to prepare polycrystals in a YO-ZrO system. An yttria-zirconia solid solution nanometric powder with a YO concentration of 3.5% was prepared by subjecting co-precipitated gels to hydrothermal treatment at 240 °C.

Hydrothermal Aging of ATZ Composites Based on Zirconia Made of Powders with Different Yttria Content.

The presented work concerns the development and investigation of three different grades of ZrO materials containing AlO particles (ATZ-Alumina Toughened Zirconia ceramics with 2.3-20 vol.% of alumina).

The Preparation of Dense Materials in the MgO-ZrO System by the Application of Nanometric Powders.

Crystallization under hydrothermal conditions allowed us to prepare nanometric powders in the MgO-ZrO system of different magnesia concentrations. Sintering runs of these powder compacts studied using dilatometry measurements during heating and cooling revealed essential differences in their behavior. The microstructure of the resulting polycrystal is strongly related to the magnesia content in the starting powder, which strongly influences the phase composition of the resulting material and its mechanical properties.

Combustion Synthesis of Aluminum Oxynitride in Loose Powder Beds.

This paper describes combusting loose powder beds of mixtures of aluminum metal powders and aluminum oxide powders with various grain sizes under various nitrogen pressure. The synthesis conditions required at least 20/80 weight ratio of aluminum metal powder to alumina powder in the mix to reach approximately 80 wt% of γ-AlON in the products. Finely ground fused white alumina with a mean grain size of 5 μm was sufficient to achieve results similar to very fine alumina with 0.

SBR Vulcanizates Filled with Modified Ground Tire Rubber.

Ground tire rubber (GTR) is used to decrease the cost of vulcanizates. However, insufficient interactions between GTR particles and rubber matrices make mechanical properties of vulcanizates containing GTR deteriorate. This paper compares original methods of GTR modification.

Surface Properties and Morphology of Boron Carbide Nanopowders Obtained by Lyophilization of Saccharide Precursors.

The powders of boron carbide are usually synthesized by the carbothermal reduction of boron oxide. As an alternative to high-temperature reactions, the development of the carbothermal reduction of organic precursors to produce BC is receiving considerable interest. The aim of this work was to compare two methods of preparing different saccharide precursors mixed with boric acid with a molar ratio of boron to carbon of 1:9 for the synthesis of BC.

The Mechanism of Adsorption of Rh(III) Bromide Complex Ions on Activated Carbon.

In the paper, the mechanism of the process of the Rh(III) ions adsorption on activated carbon ORGANOSORB 10-AA was investigated. It was shown, that the process is reversible, i.e.

Boron-Rich Boron Carbide Nanoparticles as a Carrier in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: Their Influence on Tumor and Immune Phagocytic Cells.

The aim of the work was to study the interaction between boron-rich boron carbide nanoparticles and selected tumor and immune phagocytic cells. Experiments were performed to investigate the feasibility of the application of boron carbide nanoparticles as a boron carrier in boron neutron capture therapy. Boron carbide powder was prepared by the direct reaction between boron and soot using the transport of reagents through the gas phase.

The influence of dielectric permittivity of water on the shape of PtNPs synthesized in high-pressure high-temperature microwave reactor.

In this paper, a novel method for the synthesis of Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) using a microwave autoclave reactor is proposed. For benchmarking, the obtained results are compared with the traditional, batch method. A novel process window is proposed, which is the application of high-temperature and high-pressure.

Thermal Stability and Flammability of Styrene-Butadiene Rubber-Based (SBR) Ceramifiable Composites.

Ceramifiable styrene-butadiene (SBR)-based composites containing low-softening-point-temperature glassy frit promoting ceramification, precipitated silica, one of four thermally stable refractory fillers (halloysite, calcined kaolin, mica or wollastonite) and a sulfur-based curing system were prepared. Kinetics of vulcanization and basic mechanical properties were analyzed and added as Supplementary Materials. Combustibility of the composites was measured by means of cone calorimetry.

Three-dimensional microstructural characterization of porous cubic zirconia.

A set of cubic zirconia samples were investigated using 3-dimensional electron backscatter diffraction (3D EBSD) to analyze the grain structure, grain boundary networks and pore morphology. 3D EBSD is a variation of conventional EBSD, whereby a focused ion beam (FIB) is used in a dual beam scanning electron microscope (SEM) i.e.

The influence of the API properties on the ODTs manufacturing from co-processed excipient systems.

Directly compressible co-processed excipient systems facilitate orodispersible tablets (ODTs) manufacturing. Despite several excipient systems available, it is reported that the incorporation of high drug dose into the tablet mass may negatively affect both disintegration and mechanical properties. Therefore the influence of drug properties on the quality of orodispersible tablets was investigated.