In vitro toxicity evaluation of Ti(4+)-stabilized γ-Bi2O3 sillenites.

We report results regarding the in vitro toxicology of γ-Bi2O3 represented by its isomorphous phase Bi12TiO20 (γ-BTO). The γ-BTO microparticles were synthesized by two methods: coprecipitation from a bismuth nitrate-tetrabutyl titanate solution and solid state reaction of Bi2O3 and TiO2 oxides. The structural and morphological characteristics of the obtained materials were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy. The elemental composition was investigated using energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The cytotoxicity and oxidative/nitrosative stress (intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) release) induced by the studied microparticles in HepG2, SH-SY5Y and 3T3-L1 cell cultures were determined using the MTT, DCF-DA (2',7'-dichlorfluorescein-diacetate) and Griess methods respectively. Depending on the cell type and γ-BTO concentration, results showed only weak cytotoxic effects after 24h of γ-BTO exposure and cell proliferation effects for longer treatment times. Only reduced NO release increases (corresponding to high γ-BTO concentrations) were detected in case of SH-SY5Y and 3T3-L1 cells. The intracellular ROS production (higher for HepG2 cells) appeared inversely proportional to the γ-BTO concentration. The obtained results indicated a promising in vitro biocompatibility of γ-BTO and encourage further studies regarding its potential for biomedical applications.

Three-dimensional memory effect in fluorescent photosensitive glass activated by europium and cerium.

The persistent extinction of fluorescence emission of Eu(3+) in glasses activated with europium and cerium is reported for the first time to the authors' knowledge. The glass samples containing Eu(3+) and Ce(3+) were initially colorless and transparent and exhibited intense emission peaks at 592 and 612 nm assigned to the (5)D(0)-(7)F(1, 2) transitions of Eu(3+). The complete extinction of the Eu(3+)-ion emission was obtained as an effect of multipulse excimer-UV-laser (lambda = 248 nm, tau(FWHM) >/= 20 ns) irradiation of the glass samples. Fluorescence microscopy, Mössbauer spectrometry, and electron spin resonance were applied for investigation of the modifications induced by the laser treatment. As a decisive proof of the extinction of fluorescence we succeeded in recording three-dimensional fluorescent photographic patterns within the activated samples.