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Chronic osteomyelitis is still a serious health problem that causes disabling conditions and has an impact on the quality of life. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of localized antibiotics delivery via impregnated microporous nanohydroxyapatite (nHA-ATB) beads for chronic osteomyelitis treatment. A total of 62 patients were enrolled in this study. After radical surgical debridement, the bone defect was filled with three types of antibiotics (vancomycin or gentamicin or fosfomycin) impregnated HA beads. The follow-up period was 48 weeks. It was found that the success rate was approximately 98% with a re-infection in only one patient. Quality of life of all patients after treatment improved significantly over time. Systemic exposure to vancomycin and gentamicin after beads implantation was limited and high local antibiotics concentrations were found in wound drainage fluid at 24, 48 and 72 h. Blood biochemistry measurements did not show any nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic effects. 20 adverse events were reported, but 90% of the events were resolved without having to remove the beads and the patients recovered. Satisfactory outcomes were observed in terms of success rate, quality of life and adverse effect. nHA-ATB beads impregnated by vancomycin or gentamicin or fosfomycin could potentially be employed as an alternative product of choice for localized antibiotics delivery in chronic osteomyelitis treatment.

Background: Hypodermoclysis is a method of subcutaneous fluid administration. It has been used to treat palliative patients safely and effectively. However, the use of subcutaneous hydration is often overlooked. Aim: This study aimed to compare the feasibility, pain experience and acceptability between subcutaneous and intravenous hydration in a hospital setting. Methods: A prospective, randomised clinical trial was conducted. Patients requiring fluid administration were randomly allocated an intravenous or subcutaneous route. Patients’ pain score, satisfaction and acceptance levels were collected. The difficulty score of the needle insertion and acceptance scores from nurses were recorded. Findings: A total of 26 patients were enrolled. The difficulty scores and patients’ pain scores were significantly lower in the subcutaneous group. The satisfaction and acceptance levels of the patients and nurses were similar in both groups. No systemic side-effects were found in either group. Conclusion: Hypodermoclysis was acceptable and satisfying to patients and nurses. It was less painful than the intravenous route.

The aim was to assess the effect of powder to liquid ratio (PLR) on setting time, fluoride release, and compressive strength of conventional glass ionomer cements (GICs) containing pre-reacted spherical glass fillers (SPG). GICs were prepared by mixing SPG with Fuji IX Universal liquid using PLR of 1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1, 2.5:1, 3:1. Setting time decreased from 221 to 51 s upon rising PLR. Increasing PLR decreased cumulative fluoride release (33 to 13 ppm). Diffusion coefficient of fluoride of experimental GICs (1.6-1.8×10-8 cm2/s) was comparable with that of Fuji IX Universal (1.6×10-8 cm2/s). Compressive strength of PLR 2:1 to 3:1 (93-140 MPa) were comparable with that of Fuji IX Universal (124 MPa). These results demonstrated that rising powder ratio reduced setting time, fluoride release, and compressive strength of GICs. However, the setting time and strength experimental GICs with PLR greater than 2:1 were in the acceptable range of the ISO standard.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different commercial liquid phases (Ketac, Riva, and Fuji IX) and the use of spherical pre-reacted glass (SPG) fillers on cement maturation, fluoride release, compressive (CS) and biaxial flexural strength (BFS) of experimental glass ionomer cements (GICs). The experimental GICs (Ketac_M, Riva_M, FujiIX_M) were prepared by mixing SPG fillers with commercial liquid phases using the powder to liquid mass ratio of 2.5:1. FTIR-ATR was used to assess the maturation of GICs. Diffusion coefficient of fluoride (DF) and cumulative fluoride release (CF) in deionized water was determined using the fluoride ion specific electrode (n=3). CS and BFS at 24 h were also tested (n=6). Commercial GICs were used as comparisons. Riva and Riva_M exhibited rapid polyacrylate salt formation. The highest DF and CF were observed with Riva_M (1.65x10-9 cm2/s) and Riva (77 ppm) respectively. Using SPG fillers enhanced DF of GICs on average from ~2.5x10-9 cm2/s to ~3.0x10-9 cm2/s but reduced CF of the materials on average from ~51 ppm to ~42 ppm. The CS and BFS of Ketac_M (144 and 22 MPa) and Fuji IX_M (123 and 30 MPa) were comparable to commercial materials. Using SPG with Riva significantly reduced CS and BFS from 123 MPa to 55 MPa and 42 MPa to 28 MPa respectively. The use of SPG fillers enhanced DF but reduced CF of GICs. Using SPG with Ketac or Fuji IX liquids provided comparable strength to the commercial materials. Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes fases líquidas comerciais (Ketac, Riva e Fuji IX) e o uso de partículas esféricas de vidro pré-reagido (SPG) na maturação do cimento, liberação de flúor, força de compressão (CS) e resistência biaxial à flexão (BFS) de cimentos de ionômero de vidro (GICs) experimentais. Os GICs experimentais (Ketac_M, Riva_M, FujiIX_M) foram preparados pela mistura de partículas SPG com fases líquidas comerciais usando a proporção de pó para massa líquida de 2,5: 1. O FTIR-ATR foi usado para avaliar a maturação dos GICs. O coeficiente de difusão do flúor (DF) e a liberação cumulativa de flúor (CF) em água deionizada foram determinados usando o eletrodo específico do íon fluoreto (n = 3). CS e BFS em 24 h também foram testados (n = 6). GICs comerciais foram usados como comparações. Riva e Riva_M exibiram rápida formação de sal de poliacrilato. Os maiores DF e CF foram observados com Riva_M (1,65x10-9 cm2/s) e Riva (77 ppm), respectivamente. O uso de partículas SPG melhorou o DF de GICs em média de ~ 2,5x10-9 cm2/s a ~ 3,0x10-9 cm2/s, mas reduziu o CF dos materiais em média de ~ 51 ppm a ~ 42 ppm. O CS e BFS de Ketac_M (144 e 22 MPa) e Fuji IX_M (123 e 30 MPa) foram comparáveis aos materiais comerciais. Usar SPG com Riva reduziu significativamente CS e BFS de 123 MPa para 55 MPa e 42 MPa para 28 MPa, respectivamente. O uso de SPG partículas melhorou o DF, mas reduziu o CF dos GICs. O uso de partículas SPG com líquidos Ketac ou Fuji IX proporcionou resistência comparável aos materiais comerciais.

A composite of 70/30 poly(lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite was systematically prepared using various amounts of glycidyl methacrylate as reactive compatibilizer or Joncryl ADR®-4368 containing nine glycidyl methacrylate functions as a chain extension/branching agent to improve the mechanical and biological properties for suitable usage as internal bone fixation devices. The effect of glycidyl methacrylate/Joncryl on mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite was investigated through flexural strength. Cell proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on the composite samples were determined by Alamar Blue assay and alkaline phosphatase expression, respectively. Result shows that flexural strength tends to decrease, as glycidyl methacrylate content increases except for 1 wt.% glycidyl methacrylate. With an addition of dicumyl peroxide, the flexural strength shows an improvement than that of without dicumyl peroxide probably due to the chemical bonding of the hydroxyapatite and poly(lactic acid) as revealed by FTIR and NMR, whereas the composite with 5 wt.% Joncryl shows the best result, as the flexural strength increases getting close to pure poly(lactic acid). The significant morphology change could be seen in composite with Joncryl where the uniform agglomeration of hydroxyapatite particles oriented in poly(lactic acid) matrix. Addition of the epoxy functional compatibilizers at suitable percentages could also have benefits to cellular attachment, proliferation, differentiation and mineralization. So that, this poly(lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite composite could be a promising material to be used as internal bone fixation devices such as screws, pins and plates.

Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) have been extensively used as bone graft substitutes for the repair of bone defect due to its biocompatibility, osteoconductivity and in-situ setting capability. They poorly degrade thus limiting their use in tissue engineering application. A possible strategy to improve the speed of CPC degradation is to add porogen to CPC to create macropores that can enhance cement resorption and can consequently be replaced by new bone. The as-generated macropores are generally not connected because of spherical shape of the porogens which can limit the extent of newly formed bone. The aim of this study was to fabricate CPCs having tubular macroporous structure by incorporating fast-dissolving maltodextrin microstrips (MDMS) and explore their properties such as setting time, mechanical property, microstructure and degradability of the cements. The results showed that after immersing MDMS-embedded composites in simulated body fluid under physiological condition for 1 d MDMS rapidly disintegrated (more than 70%), generating tubular macropores in CPCs. The disintegration of MDMS completed in 1 week. CPCs containing MDMS lower than 30% by weight had the same final setting time as those without MDMS. The average values of compressive strength of the CPC composites decreased with the disintegration of MDMS. % Porosity and pore interconnectivity increased with increasing MDMS content. In addition, MDMS-embedded CPCs were cell friendly with excellent cell adhesion, indicating a possible candidate as bone graft substitutes.

Mechanical alloying was employed to produce multilayered Cu/Sn particles with cold welded Cu/Sn interfaces capable to enhance wettability of liquid Sn on solid Cu during liquid-phase sintering. Independent nucleation and growth of Cu6Sn5 grains in the melt resulting in the formation of the Cu6Sn5 intermetallic layer upon grain impingement were observed in the liquid-phase sintered specimens. Amorphous Cu–Sn layer was formed between the Cu and Cu6Sn5 layers. Formation of this phase cannot be explained by the interfacial reactions normally occurring in soldering of Sn-base solders on a Cu substrate but the amorphous layer is inherited from the amorphization during mechanical alloying.

It is well known that the properties of the materials depend on the synthesis process. The controlled synthesis concern particle size and specific surface area of LaCoO3 material is necessary in many applications, such as catalysis and gas sensitivity. Since the activity of a catalysis strongly depends on the particle size and specific surface area. In this study, LaCoO3 powder was synthesized by grinding, heating and washing operations. Firstly, mixture powder of starting materials, LaCl3, CoCl2 and Na2CO3 was ground by using a planetary ball mill grind at speed 300 rpm for 2 h. Secondly, the ground sample was calcined at 600oC for 90 minutes. Finally, the sample product was washed with distilled water under ultrasonic for different treatment times to remove the NaCl phase. The ultrasonic bath was sonicated at a frequency of 40 kHz with a total nominal output power of 95 W for 0, 2, 4 and 6 minutes. All prepared samples were characterized by XRD, particle size analyzer, BET and SEM analysis. XRD patterns clearly showed the complete formation of LaCoO3 with a single-phase of perovskite structure from this synthesis. Moreover, it was found that increasing of the sonication treatment time increases the specific surface area of the prepared samples while decreasing the average particle size D [4,3] . In addition, SEM micrographs also revealed that the morphology is significantly influenced by the sonication time of treatment.

Two Lithium Disilicate (LD) glass ceramics based on SiO2-Li2O-K2O-Al2O3 system were prepared through a glass melting method. The glass rods were then fabricated into dental crowns via a hot pressing at 900˚C and 850˚C in order to study the effect of the pressing temperatures on the phase formation and microstructure of the glasses. Different samples of as cast glass and heat treated samples (600˚C and 700˚C) were used to press for investigating the effect of an initial microstructure on the hot pressing technique. Xray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to determine the phase formation and microstructure of the samples, respectively. XRD results show that the main crystalline structure was Li2Si2O5 by having Li3PO4, Li0.6Al0.6Si2O6, Li2SiO3, Ca5 (PO4)3F and SiO2 as minor phases. Glass compositions with different heat treatment temperatures exhibited a difference phase formations but have less effect during pressing. SEM micrographs showed the microstructure of Li2Si2O5 as lath-like shape in all glasses. With increasing the initial heat treatment temperature, the longer the lath-like crystals of lithium disilicate were increased especially when using glass heat treatment at 700˚C followed by pressing at 900˚C. This could be suggested that LD1 heat treatment at 700˚C which pressing at 900˚C presented the best formation by the hot pressing and compiled microstructure.

Lanthanum cobalt oxide (LaCoO3) powders were prepared from mixtures of LaCl3 7 H2O, CoCl2, and Na2CO3 by grinding, heating, and washing operations. The reagents were mixed in a molar ratio of 1:1:2.5 in a planetary ball mill and milled at 300 rpm for 2 h. The milled samples were heated at various calcination temperatures and washed with distilled water. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis were used to evaluate the optimum conditions for calcination. Phase formation was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) while specific surface area was measured by the BET method. The average particle size distribution was determined by a particle size analyser and morphology studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The TG and DTA curves of the milled samples indicated that the formation of LaCoO3 occurred at temperatures in the range of 600 °C to 800 °C. XRD patterns showed clearly the formation of the LaCoO3 phase with perovskite-type structure at those temperatures. In addition, the results showed that the specific surface areas of the products decreased with increasing calcination temperature, while the average particle size D(4,3) increased. Furthermore, SEM micrographs demonstrated that the particles were in an agglomerated form with mean primary particle sizes in the range of 0.3-0.6 µm.