Biocompatibility analysis in subcutaneous tissue and physico-chemical analysis of pre-mixed calcium silicate-based sealers.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the biocompatibility, physical and chemical properties of three pre-mixed calcium silicate-based sealers and an epoxy resin-based material were assessed. Pre-mixed sealers supposedly obtain water from the root canal moist to hydrate and set. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polyethylene tubes were filled with the materials Bio-C Sealer Ion+, Bio-C Sealer, EndoSequence BC Sealer and AH Plus Jet, or left empty and surgically implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of Wistar rats. The animals were euthanised and the tubes and tissue were removed for histological analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Materials' surface chemical characterisation was assessed using Raman spectroscopy and SEM/EDS. Flow, setting time (in two conditions), solubility, radiopacity and pH were also analysed. ANOVA and Bonferroni correction were performed for comparisons (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Inflammatory response observed in the tissues subsided from 7 to 30 days. Tungsten migration could be detected in the surrounding tissue following AH Plus Jet implantation. All calcium silicate-based sealers exhibited zirconium oxide (radiopacifier) and tricalcium silicate peaks before and after implantation. All materials exhibited flow values above 17 mm. An approximately tenfold difference was observed between the plaster- and metal-mould setting times of the calcium silicate cements indicating its sensitivity to moist variations and solubility above 8% was also observed for these materials. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-mixed materials exhibited variable setting time and solubility with a decreasing inflammatory response. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The variable moist-dependant setting time with high solubility poses a concern for the clinical use of these pre-mixed sealers.

Depleting high-abundant and enriching low-abundant proteins in human serum: An evaluation of sample preparation methods using magnetic nanoparticle, chemical depletion and immunoaffinity techniques.

The efficiency of three different depletion methods to remove the most abundant proteins, enriching those human serum proteins with low abundance is checked to make more efficient the search and discovery of biomarkers. These methods utilize magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), chemical reagents (sequential application of dithiothreitol and acetonitrile, DTT/ACN), and commercial apparatus based on immunoaffinity (ProteoMiner, PM). The comparison between methods shows significant removal of abundant protein, remaining in the supernatant at concentrations of 4.6±0.2, 3.6±0.1, and 3.3±0.2µgµL-1 (n=3) for MNPs, DTT/ACN and PM respectively, from a total protein content of 54µgµL-1. Using GeLC-MS/MS analysis, MNPs depletion shows good efficiency in removing high molecular weight proteins (>80kDa). Due to the synergic effect between the reagents DTT and ACN, DTT/ACN-based depletion offers good performance in the depletion of thiol-rich proteins, such as albumin and transferrin (DTT action), as well as of high molecular weight proteins (ACN action). Furthermore, PM equalization confirms its efficiency in concentrating low-abundant proteins, decreasing the dynamic range of protein levels in human serum. Direct comparison between the treatments reveals 72 proteins identified when using MNP depletion (43 of them exclusively by this method), but only 20 proteins using DTT/ACN (seven exclusively by this method). Additionally, after PM treatment 30 proteins were identified, seven exclusively by this method. Thus, MNPs and DTT/ACN depletion can be simple, quick, cheap, and robust alternatives for immunochemistry-based protein depletion, providing a potential strategy in the search for disease biomarkers.

Monitoring of hydrogen sulfide via substrate-integrated hollow waveguide mid-infrared sensors in real-time.

Hydrogen sulfide is a highly corrosive, harmful, and toxic gas produced under anaerobic conditions within industrial processes or in natural environments, and plays an important role in the sulfur cycle. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the permissible exposure limit (during 8 hours) is 10 ppm. Concentrations of 20 ppm are the threshold for critical health issues. In workplace environments with human subjects frequently exposed to H2S, e.g., during petroleum extraction and refining, real-time monitoring of exposure levels is mandatory. Sensors based on electrochemical measurement principles, semiconducting metal-oxides, taking advantage of their optical properties, have been described for H2S monitoring. However, extended response times, limited selectivity, and bulkiness of the instrumentation are common disadvantages of the sensing techniques reported to date. Here, we describe for the first time usage of a new generation of compact gas cells, i.e., so-called substrate-integrated hollow waveguides (iHWGs), combined with a compact Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer for advanced gas sensing of H2S. The principle of detection is based on the immediate UV-assisted conversion of the rather weak IR-absorber H2S into much more pronounced and distinctively responding SO2. A calibration was established in the range of 10-100 ppm with a limit of detection (LOD) at 3 ppm, which is suitable for occupational health monitoring purposes. The developed sensing scheme provides an analytical response time of less than 60 seconds. Considering the substantial potential for miniaturization using e.g., a dedicated quantum cascade laser (QCL) in lieu of the FTIR spectrometer, the developed sensing approach may be evolved into a hand-held instrument, which may be tailored to a variety of applications ranging from environmental monitoring to workplace safety surveillance, process analysis and clinical diagnostics, e.g., breath analysis.

Real-time monitoring of ozone in air using substrate-integrated hollow waveguide mid-infrared sensors.

Ozone is a strong oxidant that is globally used as disinfection agent for many purposes including indoor building air cleaning, during food preparation procedures, and for control and killing of bacteria such as E. coli and S. aureus. However, it has been shown that effective ozone concentrations for controlling e.g., microbial growth need to be higher than 5 ppm, thereby exceeding the recommended U.S. EPA threshold more than 10 times. Consequently, real-time monitoring of such ozone concentration levels is essential. Here, we describe the first online gas sensing system combining a compact Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer with a new generation of gas cells, a so-called substrate-integrated hollow waveguide (iHWG). The sensor was calibrated using an UV lamp for the controlled generation of ozone in synthetic air. A calibration function was established in the concentration range of 0.3-5.4 mmol m⁻³ enabling a calculated limit of detection (LOD) at 0.14 mmol m⁻³ (3.5 ppm) of ozone. Given the adaptability of the developed IR sensing device toward a series of relevant air pollutants, and considering the potential for miniaturization e.g., in combination with tunable quantum cascade lasers in lieu of the FTIR spectrometer, a wide range of sensing and monitoring applications of beyond ozone analysis are anticipated.