Fiber Bragg Sensors Embedded in Cast Aluminum Parts: Axial Strain and Temperature Response.

In this study, the response of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) embedded in cast aluminum parts under thermal and mechanical load were investigated. Several types of FBGs in different types of fibers were used in order to verify general applicability. To monitor a temperature-induced strain, an embedded regenerated FBG (RFBG) in a cast part was placed in a climatic chamber and heated up to 120 ∘C within several cycles. The results show good agreement with a theoretical model, which consists of a shrink-fit model and temperature-dependent material parameters. Several cast parts with different types of FBGs were machined into tensile test specimens and tensile tests were executed. For the tensile tests, a cyclic procedure was chosen, which allowed us to distinguish between the elastic and plastic deformation of the specimen. An analytical model, which described the elastic part of the tensile test, was introduced and showed good agreement with the measurements. Embedded FBGs - integrated during the casting process - showed under all mechanical and thermal load conditions no hysteresis, a reproducible sensor response, and a high reliable operation, which is very important to create metallic smart structures and packaged fiber optic sensors for harsh environments.

Transition from purely elastic to viscoelastic behavior of silica optical fibers at high temperatures characterized using regenerated Bragg gratings.

In this study, the response of regenerated fiber Bragg gratings (RFGBs) to axial forces was investigated in a temperature range from room temperature to 900 °C. For the first time, the transition from pure elastic to viscoelastic behavior around 700 °C of a standard SMF28 optical fiber was measured with an inscribed RFBG. An elastic model with linear temperature dependencies of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio was established, and showed good agreement with the measurements up to temperatures of ∼500 °C. In the temperature range up to 900 °C, the RFBG response could be well described with a simple, single-material approach and a Burgers model that consists of a Kelvin and a Maxwell part. Based on the elastic parameter of the Maxwell part, the temperature-dependent force sensitivity of the RFBG was determined, and it showed a linear decrease in the range from room temperature to ∼500 °C, constant values in the range between ∼500 °C and ∼600 °C, and a strong increase at higher temperatures. While fulfilling the condition to operate in the elastic domain of the silica fiber, the investigations demonstrate that RFBGs can be used as force sensors up to temperatures of ∼600 °C - the range in which temperature-dependent force sensitivities have to be considered. The temperature-dependent parameters of the effective single-material model (elastic and viscoelastic part) are essential to describe the effective mechanical behavior of the optical fiber at high temperatures.

Strain Measurement in Aluminium Alloy during the Solidification Process Using Embedded Fibre Bragg Gratings.

In recent years, the observation of the behaviour of components during the production process and over their life cycle is of increasing importance. Structural health monitoring, for example of carbon composites, is state-of-the-art research. The usage of Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBGs) in this field is of major advantage. Another possible area of application is in foundries. The internal state of melts during the solidification process is of particular interest. By using embedded FBGs, temperature and stress can be monitored during the process. In this work, FBGs were embedded in aluminium alloys in order to observe the occurring strain. Two different FBG positions were chosen in the mould in order to compare its dependence. It was shown that FBGs can withstand the solidification process, although a compression in the range of one percent was measured, which is in agreement with the literature value. Furthermore, different lengths of the gratings were applied, and it was shown that shorter gratings result in more accurate measurements. The obtained results prove that FBGs are applicable as sensors for temperatures up to 740 °C.

Synthesis of novel tricalcium phosphate-bioactive glass composite and functionalization with rhBMP-2.

A functionalization is required for calcium phosphate-based bone substitute materials to achieve an entire bone remodeling. In this study it was hypothesized that a tailored composite of tricalcium phosphate and a bioactive glass can be loaded sufficiently with rhBMP-2 for functionalization. A composite of 40 wt% tricalcium phosphate and 60 wt% bioactive glass resulted in two crystalline phases, wollastonite and rhenanite after sintering. SEM analysis of the composite's surface revealed a spongious bone-like morphology after treatment with different acids. RhBMP-2 was immobilized non-covalently by treating with chrome sulfuric acid (CSA) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) and covalently by treating with CSA/APS, and additionally with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole. It was proved that samples containing non-covalently immobilized rhBMP-2 on the surface exhibit significant biological activity in contrast to the samples with covalently bound protein on the surface. We conclude that a tailored composite of tricalcium phosphate and bioactive glass can be loaded sufficiently with BMP-2.

Selective laser-melted fully biodegradable scaffold composed of poly(d,l-lactide) and ß-tricalcium phosphate with potential as a biodegradable implant for complex maxillofacial reconstruction: In vitro and in vivo results.

OBJECTIVES: Scaffolds (SC) composed of poly(d,l-lactide) and ß-tricalcium phosphate of variable pore structures were manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM), which allowed the production of porous interconnected structures promoting cellular adhesion and vascular proliferation. Biocompatibility, rate of osseointegration and new bone formation (NB) were analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Powder based on the material composition was selective melted by a laser beam allowing layer-by-layer production. Pore size and biocompatibility were tested with mesenchymal stem cells (rMSC) and Saos 2 cells that were cultivated on SCs showing better proliferation, without toxicity, than controls. SCs with a 600- to 700-µm pore diameter proved ideal for fast and reliable cellular and vascular supply throughout the interconnecting pore system. Jaw and calvarial critical-size defects (CSD) with diameters of 5 or 16 mm were drilled in rats and either SLM test SCs (pore diameter 600 µm) or the previously removed autologs bone as controls were (re-) implanted. RESULTS: The SC in vivo led to complete bone ingrowth with minimal inflammatory reaction adjacent to and within the CSD as compared with controls. The SC promoted the differentiation of rMSC into osteoblasts, revealing osteoinductive properties. Promising NB ingrowth of the material was also obtained in the animal study. CONCLUSION: The SC showed complete bony replacement within 30 days in all rats; this ingrowth was significantly superior to that of controls and revealed no signs of significant foreign body reaction. Because of continuous replacement by bone this material composition is ideal for SCs fitting 3D bone defects. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 1216-1231, 2017.

Calcium phosphate scaffolds mimicking the gradient architecture of native long bones.

The synthesis of beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) scaffolds offering both the macroporous inner structure required for proper in vivo degradation and a non-macroporous outer structure for the enhancement of mechanical properties continues to be a challenge. The hypothesis of this study was to realize biomimetic ß-TCP scaffolds with a macroporous inner structure and a compact outer structure using a lost wax casting technique. The porosity, macropore size, interconnectivity of the inner porous structure, and diameter of the outer compact structure were adjusted to specific values using a three-dimensional wax printer to manufacture the wax molds for the casting process. After the slip casting, the wax was pyrolyzed and the specimens were sintered. The resulting graded ß-TCP scaffolds (porous + compact) were characterized and compared with ß-TCP scaffolds with overall apparent macropores (only porous) and samples without macropores (only compact). The porosity and the compressive strength of the only compact, porous + compact, and only porous ß-TCP samples were 31.4 ± 0.4 vol %, 55.6 ± 0.9 vol %, and 66.9 ± 0.4 vol % and 192 ± 7 MPa, 36 ± 2 MPa, and 9 ± 1 MPa, respectively. The macropore size was 500 µm and the micropore size was up to 10 µm, both featuring a completely open porous structure. From these results, we conclude that the lost wax casting technique offers an excellent method for the fabrication of ß-TCP scaffolds with an inner macroporous structure and compact outer structure which mimics the cancellous and cortical structure of natural bone.

A novel flow-based parameter of collateral function assessed by intracoronary thermodilution.

BACKGROUND: Currently, many methods for quantitation of coronary collateral function are based on intracoronary pressure measurements distal of an occluded balloon, which do not fully account for the dynamic nature of collateral flow. Therefore, a flow-based parameter of coronary collateral function based upon principles of thermodilution was evaluated. METHODS: In 26 patients with a high-grade coronary artery stenosis, intracoronary hemodynamics were analyzed by the RadiAnalyzer system (St Jude Medical), including fractional flow reserve (FFR), index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), and the pressure-based collateral flow index (CFI) during balloon occlusion and hyperemia (intravenous adenosine). Moreover, immediately after an intracoronary bolus of room-temperature saline, the balloon was occluded and the intracoronary temperature distal to the balloon was analyzed over time. The slope of the temperature-time curve was calculated after logarithmic transformation as an index of collateral blood flow (CBFI). RESULTS: The coefficient of variation between two measurements of CBFI amounted to 11 ± 2%. In patients with CFI ≥0.25, CBFI amounted to 0.55 ± 0.09, whereas in those with CFI <0.25, CBFI was 0.37 ± 0.03. CBFI correlated significantly with CFI (r = 0.65; P<.001). Interestingly, in the subgroup with IMR below the median (<14.2 mm Hg · s), the slope of the linear regression for CBFI vs CFI was steeper than in individuals with higher IMR, which indicates more effective collateral flow for any given intracoronary pressure distal to the occluded balloon in the group with lower microvascular resistance. CONCLUSIONS: This novel index might be useful as a flow-based index of collateral function, and should be evaluated in further studies.

Two-photon laser scanning microscopy as a useful tool for imaging and evaluating macrophage-, IL-4 activated macrophage- and osteoclast-based in vitro degradation of beta-tricalcium phosphate bone substitute material.

Two-photon microscopy is an innovative technology that has high potential to combine the examination of soft and hard tissues in vitro and in vivo. Calcium phosphates are widely used substitutes for bone tissue engineering, since they are degradable and consequently replaced by newly formed tissue. It is well known that osteoclasts are responsible for the resorption processes during bone remodelling. We hypothesize that also macrophages are actively involved in the resorption process of calcium phosphate scaffolds and addressed this question in in vitro culture systems by two-photon laser scanning microscopy. Beta-tricalcium phosphate specimens were incubated with (1) macrophages, (2) interleukin-4 activated macrophages, and (3) osteoclasts for up to 21 days. Interestingly, macrophages degraded beta-tricalcium phosphate specimens in an equivalent fashion compared to osteoclasts and significantly more than IL-4 activated macrophages. An average of ~32% of the macrophages was partially filled with ceramic material while this was 18% for osteoclasts and 9% for IL-4 activated macrophages. For the first time by applying two-photon microscopy, our studies show the previously unrecognized potential of macrophages to phagocytose ceramic material, which is expected to have implication on osteoconductive scaffold design.

The effect of crystallization of bioactive bioglass 45S5 on apatite formation and degradation.

OBJECTIVE: Amorphous bioglass 45S5 has been used for many years as bone substitute material. Bioactive glasses are also suitable as coating materials for implants in order to improve the bone ongrowth behavior. We hypothesize that both the apatite formation on the surface and the chemical stability can be improved by crystallization of the bioglass. METHODS: Synthesized amorphous bioglass 45S5 specimens as well as samples which were crystallized at 1000 °C were stored in simulated body fluid for 1, 7, and 14 days. The respective apatite formation was gravimetrically determined and characterized by SEM and XRD analysis. Moreover, the degradation behavior was studied after storage in distilled water. RESULTS: The weight of the crystallized samples decreased 6.3% less than that of the amorphous samples. Calcium silica and calcium carbonate layers were found on amorphous bioglass after 7 and 14 days. However, apatite formation was observed only on the crystallized 45S5 samples after storage. SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that the chemical resistance can be improved and, in parallel, a pronounced apatite formation on the surface of 45S5 can be obtained by controlled crystallization of the material for the particular test setup. Therefore, crystallized bioactive glasses should be considered to be promising coating material for dental implants.

Manufacturing of individual biodegradable bone substitute implants using selective laser melting technique.

The additive manufacturing technique selective laser melting (SLM) has been successfully proved to be suitable for applications in implant manufacturing. SLM is well known for metal parts and offers direct manufacturing of three-dimensional (3D) parts with high bulk density on the base of individual 3D data, including computer tomography models of anatomical structures. Furthermore, an interconnecting porous structure with defined and reproducible pore size can be integrated during the design of the 3D virtual model of the implant. The objective of this study was to develop the SLM processes for a biodegradable composite material made of ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) and poly(D, L)-lactide (PDLLA). The development of a powder composite material (ß-TCP/PDLLA) suitable for the SLM process was successfully performed. The microstructure of the manufactured samples exhibit a homogeneous arrangement of ceramic and polymer. The four-point bending strength was up to 23 MPa. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the samples confirmed ß-TCP as the only present crystalline phase and the gel permeations chromatography (GPC) analysis documented a degradation of the polymer caused by the laser process less than conventional manufacturing processes. We conclude that SLM presents a new possibility to manufacture individual biodegradable implants made of ß-TCP/PDLLA.