Preparation and structural characterization of epoxidized soybean oils-based pressure sensitive adhesive grafted with tea polyphenol palmitate.

Vegetable oils-based pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are green and sustainable but face unsatisfactory adhesion strengths and are prone to aging during storage and application due to the existence of residual double bonds and massive ester bonds. Nine common antioxidants (tea polyphenol palmitate (TPP), caffeic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene, tertiary butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole, propyl gallate, and tea polyphenols) were grafted into epoxidized soybean oils-PSA (ESO-PSA) system to enhance antiaging properties and adhesion strengths. Results showed ESO-PSAs grafted with caffeic acid, tertiary butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole, propyl gallate, tea polyphenols, or TPP didn't occur failure with TPP having best performance. The optimal conditions were ESO reacted with 0.9 % TPP, 70 % rosin ester, and 7.0 % phosphoric acid at 50 °C for 5 min, under which peel strength and loop tack increased to 2.460 N/cm and 1.66 N, respectively, but peel strength residue reduced to 138.09 %, compared with control (0.407 N/cm, 0.43 N, and 1669.99 %). Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric results showed TPP grafting increased the glass transition temperature of ESO-PSA slightly but improved its thermal stability significantly. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance results showed TPP, phosphoric acid, and rosin ester all partially participated in the covalently crosslinking polymerization of ESO-PSAs and the rest existed in the network structures in the free form.

Black phosphorus boosts wet-tissue adhesion of composite patches by enhancing water absorption and mechanical properties.

Wet-tissue adhesives have long been attractive materials for realizing complicated biomedical functions. However, the hydration film on wet tissues can generate a boundary, forming hydrogen bonds with the adhesives that weaken adhesive strength. Introducing black phosphorus (BP) is believed to enhance the water absorption capacity of tape-type adhesives and effectively eliminate hydration layers between the tissue and adhesive. This study reports a composite patch integrated with BP nanosheets (CPB) for wet-tissue adhesion. The patch's improved water absorption and mechanical properties ensure its immediate and robust adhesion to wet tissues. Various bioapplications of CPB are demonstrated, such as rapid hemostasis (within ~1-2 seconds), monitoring of physical-activity and prevention of tumour-recurrence, all validated via in vivo studies. Given the good practicability, histocompatibility and biodegradability of CPB, the proposed patches hold significant promise for a wide range of biomedical applications.

A DNA-inspired injectable adhesive hydrogel with dual nitric oxide donors to promote angiogenesis for enhanced wound healing.

Chronic diabetic wounds are a severe complication of diabetes, often leading to high treatment costs and high amputation rates. Numerous studies have revealed that nitric oxide (NO) therapy is a promising option because it favours wound revascularization. Here, base-paired injectable adhesive hydrogels (CAT) were prepared using adenine- and thymine-modified chitosan (CSA and CST). By further introducing S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and binary l-arginine (bArg), we obtained a NO sustained-release hydrogel (CAT/bArg/GSON) that was more suitable for the treatment of chronic wounds. The results showed that the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF was upregulated in the CAT/bArg/GSON group, and improved blood vessel regeneration was observed, indicating an important role of NO. In addition, the research findings revealed that following treatment with the CAT/bArg/GSON hydrogel, the viability of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli decreased to 14 ± 2 % and 6 ± 1 %, respectively. Moreover, the wound microenvironment was improved, as evidenced by a 60 ± 1 % clearance of DPPH. In particular, histological examination and immunohistochemical staining results showed that wounds treated with CAT/bArg/GSNO exhibited denser neovascularization, faster epithelial tissue regeneration, and thicker collagen deposition. Overall, this study proposes an effective strategy to prepare injectable hydrogel dressings with dual NO donors. The functionality of CAT/bArg/GSON has been thoroughly demonstrated in research on chronic wound vascular regeneration, indicating that CAT/bArg/GSON could be a potential option for promoting chronic wound healing. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This article prepares a chitosan hydrogel utilizing the principle of complementary base pairing, which offers several advantages, including good adhesion, biocompatibility, and flow properties, making it a good material for wound dressings. Loaded GSNO and bArg can steadily release NO and l-arginine through the degradation of the gel. Then, the released l-arginine not only possesses antioxidant properties but can also continue to generate a small amount of NO under the action of NOS. This design achieves a sustained and stable supply of NO at the wound site, maximizing the angiogenesis-promoting and antibacterial effects of NO. More neovascularization and abundant collagen were observed in the regenerated tissues. This study provides an effective repair hydrogel material for diabetic wound.

Modulating pro-adhesive nature of metallic surfaces through a polypeptide coupling via diazonium chemistry.

The design of biomaterials able to facilitate cell adhesion is critical in the field of tissue engineering. Precise control of surface chemistry at the material/tissue interface plays a major role in enhancing the interactions between a biomaterial and living cells. Bio-integration is particularly important in case of various electrotherapies, since a close contact between tissue and electrode's surface facilitates treatment. A promising approach towards surface biofunctionalization involves the electrografting of diazonium salts followed by the modification of organic layer with pro-adhesive polypeptides. This study focuses on the modification of platinum electrodes with a 4-nitrobenzenediazonium layer, which is then converted to the aminobenzene moiety. The electrodes are further biofunctionalized with polypeptides (polylysine and polylysine/laminin) to enhance cell adhesion. This study also explores the differences between physical and chemical coupling of selected polypeptides to modulate pro-adhesive nature of Pt electrodes with respect to human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and U87 astrocytes. Our results demonstrate the significant enhancement in cell adhesion for biofunctionalized electrodes, with more amplified adhesion noted for covalently coupled polypeptides. The implications of this research are crucial for the development of more effective and functional biomaterials, particularly biomedical electrodes, which have the potential to advance the field of bioelectronics and improve patients' outcomes.

Comparative evaluation of effect of chlorhexidine application on dentin bond strength with two different adhesives after ER, CR: YSGG phototherapy: an in vitro study.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of phototherapy with an Er, Cr:YSGG laser on the bond strength of dentin using two different adhesive systems after chlorhexidine (CHX) application. Twenty-four non-carious human molar teeth were separated into three main groups: negative control Group A (Group A), CHX and phototherapy with an Er, Cr:YSGG laser (Group PC), and CHX with conventional diamond bur (no phototherapy) (Group C). These groups were divided into two subgroups based on adhesives: Clearfil Universal Quick Bond and Clearfil SE Bond. To evaluate the microtensile bond strength, the occlusal enamel surfaces of the teeth were removed with a low-speed, water-cooled diamond bur to expose hard dentin tissue. The teeth within Group PC were treated with Er, Cr:YSGG phototherapy. The surfaces were then disinfected with 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate. Subgroups were applied according to the manufacturer's instructions using the adhesive systems mentioned above. Following adhesive application, the teeth were restored with composite resin. A microtensile bond strength test was performed on the test sticks obtained from the teeth using a universal test device. Data were analyzed using variance analysis (ANOVA) at a significance level of p < 0.05. Among all groups, the highest bond strength was achieved with Clearfil SE Bond with CHX + phototherapy (45.6 ± 4.2), while the lowest was achieved with Clearfil Universal Quick Bond without phototherapy (control group) (27.0 ± 6.7) (p < 0.05). Phototherapy with Er, Cr: YSGG following chlorhexidine application enhanced the bond strength of both the bond systems (p < 0.05).

Effect of Chitosan on Rheological, Mechanical, and Adhesive Properties of Pectin-Calcium Gel.

In the present study, chitosan was included in the pectin ionotropic gel to improve its mechanical and bioadhesive properties. Pectin-chitosan gels P-Ch0, P-Ch1, P-Ch2, and P-Ch3 of chitosan weight fractions of 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 were prepared and characterized by dynamic rheological tests, penetration tests, and serosal adhesion ex vivo assays. The storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G″) values, gel hardness, and elasticity of P-Ch1 were significantly higher than those of P-Ch0 gel. However, a further increase in the content of chitosan in the gel significantly reduced these parameters. The inclusion of chitosan into the pectin gel led to a decrease in weight and an increase in hardness during incubation in Hanks' solution at pH 5.0, 7.4, and 8.0. The adhesion of P-Ch1 and P-Ch2 to rat intestinal serosa ex vivo was 1.3 and 1.7 times stronger, whereas that of P-Ch3 was similar to that of a P-Ch0 gel. Pre-incubation in Hanks' solution at pH 5.0 and 7.4 reduced the adhesivity of gels; however, the adhesivity of P-Ch1 and P-Ch2 exceeded that of P-Ch0 and P-Ch3. Thus, serosal adhesion combined with higher mechanical stability in a wide pH range appeared to be advantages of the inclusion of chitosan into pectin gel.

Glycyrrhizic acid delivery system Chitosan-coated liposome as an adhesive anti-inflammation.

Nowadays, medicinal plants are used to overcome the side effects of prescription drugs in modern medicine. Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) derived from the root of the licorice plant is one of the plant compounds whose effectiveness has been confirmed in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD). Liposome thin film hydration method was used to synthesize chitosan-coated liposomes containing GA. In the present study, chitosan-coated liposome was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The FTIR spectrum confirmed the coating of liposomes by chitosan polymer.  Liposome coating leads to an increase in the size and values of zeta potential. The 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay of chitosan-coated liposomes containing GA confirmed that it has no cytotoxicity toward fibroblasts cell line, therefore confirming their cytocompatibility. Overall, drug loading, release and cytotoxicity were evaluated and it was found that chitosan decreased the release rate of GA. It seems; chitosan-coated liposomes may be a suitable system for delivering liposomal GA in the treatment of IBD.

Bergenia stracheyi extract-based hybrid hydrogels of biocompatible polymers with good adhesive, stretching, swelling, self-healing, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties.

An ultra-stretchable, quickly self-healable, adhesive hydrogel with efficient anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities makes it potential wound dressing material, particularly in healing skin wounds. However, it is highly challenging to prepare such hydrogels with a facile and efficient material design. Given this, we opine the synthesis of medicinal plant Bergenia stracheyi extract-loaded hybrid hydrogels of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers like Gelatin, Hydroxypropyl cellulose, and Polyethylene glycol with acrylic acid via in situ free radical polymerization reaction. The selected plant extract is rich in phenols, flavonoids, and tannins and found to have important therapeutic benefits such as anti-ulcer, anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus, anti-inflammatory, and burn wound healing effects. The polyphenolic compounds in the plant extract interacted strongly via hydrogen bonding with -OH, -NH2, -COOH, and C-O-C groups of the macromolecules. The synthesized hydrogels were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and rheology. The as-prepared hydrogels demonstrate ideal tissue adhesion, excellent stretchability, good mechanical strength, broad-band anti-bacterial capability, and efficient anti-oxidant properties, in addition to quick self-healing and moderate swelling properties. Thus, the aforementioned properties attract the potential use of these materials in the biomedical field.

Clinical efficacy of acupuncture in patients with adhesive intestinal obstruction: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Adhesive intestinal obstruction (AIO) is a common surgical emergency. Surgical exploration has a considerable risk of intestinal injury, and surgical treatment may greatly reduce the quality of life after surgery and cause AIO after re-operation. The nonsurgical treatment is effective for approximately 70% to 90% of patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO). However, the high recurrence (30%) and mortality (2%) rates of ASBO are concerning. Moreover, the ideal management method of ASBO remains debatable. Studies have shown that acupuncture can also promote postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery and prevent postoperative complications such as nausea, vomiting, and visceral pain. AIM: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of AIO. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of acupuncture for adhesive bowel obstruction published until November 2021 were identified by searching 8 comprehensive databases. Data analysis was performed using RevMan v. 5.4 and Stata software v. 16.0. The random-effects model and the fixed-effects model were used to perform the meta-analysis on the experimental group and control group. RESULTS: Twelve studies with a total of 892 participants were included. The results showed that the experimental group had a significantly higher effective rate (relative risk: 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-1.28; P < .00001) and a markedly shorter time of the first defecation (mean difference: -11.49, 95% CI: -19.31 to -3.66; P = .004) than the control group. The experimental group also showed a reduction in the duration of abdominal pain, and the reduced length of hospital stay. However, no statistical differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of the surgery conversion rate. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture is effective in the treatment of AIO. It can remarkably alleviate some clinical symptoms in patients with AIO.

Effects of sequential approach of positional release for subscapularis and OLA Grimsby technique on shoulder external rotation in adhesive.

A sample of 34 patients was randomly assigned to two Groups A and B (17 in each group). Positional release of subscapularis technique to Group A participants and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) (hold-relax) and anterior mobilisation technique were simultaneously applied to Group B participants. Data was collected from Nusrat Abdul Rauf Centre for Enablement and Faisal Hospital, Faisalabad, from August 30, 2018 to November 27, 2018. The duration of the treatment was four weeks with three sessions per week. The main outcome measures were Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and shoulder external rotation range of motion. The differences between Ola Grimsby group (Group B) and subscapularis release group (Group A) were statistically significant for pain, disability and shoulder range of motion (p-value<0.05) with higher mean values for Ola Grimsby group. This study concluded that the sequential effects of Ola Grimsby technique are better as compared to positional release of subscapularis in terms of reducing pain and improving shoulder external rotation range of motion.

A Bio-Based Supramolecular Adhesive: Ultra-High Adhesion Strengths at both Ambient and Cryogenic Temperatures and Excellent Multi-Reusability.

Developing high-performance and reusable adhesives from renewable feedstocks is of significance to sustainable development, yet it still remains a formidable task. Herein, castor oil, melevodopa, and iron ions are used as building blocks to construct a novel bio-based supramolecular adhesive (BSA) with outstanding adhesion performances. It is prepared through partial coordination between melevodopa functionalized castor oil and Fe3+ ions. Noncovalent interactions between adherends and the catechol unit from melevodopa contribute to reinforcing adhesion, and the metal-ligand coordination between catechol and Fe3+ ions is utilized to strengthen cohesion. By combining strong adhesion and tough cohesion, the prepared BSA achieves an adhesion strength of 14.6 MPa at ambient temperature, a record-high value among reported bio-based adhesives as well as supramolecular adhesives to the best of knowledge. It also outperforms those adhesives at cryogenic temperature, realizing another record-high adhesion strength of 9.5 MPa at -196 °C. In addition, the BSA displays excellent multi-reusability with more than 87% of the original adhesion strength remaining even after reuse for ten times. It is highly anticipated that this line of research will provide a new insight into designing bio-based adhesives with outstanding adhesion performances and excellent multi-reusability.

Plant Oil-Based Acrylic Latexes towards Multisubstrate Bonding Adhesives Applications.

To investigate the utility of acrylic monomers from various plant oils in adhesives manufacturing, 25-45 wt. % of high oleic soybean oil-based monomer (HOSBM) was copolymerized in a miniemulsion with commercially applied butyl acrylate (BA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), or styrene (St). The compositions of the resulting ternary latex copolymers were varied in terms of both "soft" (HOSBM, BA) and "rigid" (MMA or St) macromolecular fragments, while total monomer conversion and molecular weight of copolymers were determined after synthesis. For most latexes, results indicated the presence of lower and higher molecular weight fractions, which is beneficial for the material adhesive performance. To correlate surface properties and adhesive performance of HOSBM-based copolymer latexes, contact angle hysteresis (using water as a contact liquid) for each latex-substrate pair was first determined. The data showed that plant oil-based latexes exhibit a clear ability to spread and adhere once applied on the surface of materials differing by polarities, such as semicrystalline polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), bleached paperboard (uncoated), and tops coated with a clay mineral paperboard. The effectiveness of plant oil-based ternary latexes as adhesives was demonstrated on PET to PP and coated to uncoated paperboard substrates. As a result, the latexes with high biobased content developed in this study provide promising adhesive performance, causing substrate failure instead of cohesive/adhesive break in many experiments.

Abalone-Inspired Adhesive and Photo-Responsive Microparticle Delivery Systems for Periodontal Drug Therapy.

Antibiotics provide promising strategies for treating periodontitis, while their delivery and controllable release with desired oral retention remain challenging. Here, inspired by the unique suction-cup structures of abalones, a novel adhesive and photo-responsive microparticle (MP) delivery system is developed to treat periodontitis through microfluidic electrospray technology. Such MPs are generated by quickly ionic cross-linking of sodium alginate together with photo-curing of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate of the distorted microfluidic droplets during their high-speed dropping into calcium chloride solution. Attributing to their unique concave structures, the abalone-inspired MPs exhibit desired underwater adhesion ability and stability under running water. In addition, due to the loading of antibiotics minocycline hydrochloride and near-infrared (NIR)-responsive black phosphorus during their fabrication, the resultant MPs can not only eradicate bacteria directly, but also realize a controllable and effective drug release upon NIR irradiation. Based on these features, it is demonstrated from in vivo periodontitis that the abalone-inspired MPs are firmly adhesive and can controlled-release drugs on the tooth, and thus have outstanding antibacterial efficacy against Porphyromonas gingivalis. These results indicate the particular values of the abalone-inspired MPs for oral-related disease treatment.

Efficacy of chlorhexidine, photosensitizers, green tea extract, and propolis on bond integrity and microleakage of caries-affected dentin: An in-vitro study.

AIM: The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of chlorhexidine (CHX), phycocyanin photosensitizer (PC), green tea extract (GTE), and propolis (PP) on the adhesive bond integrity and microleakage of caries-affected dentin (CAD) using etch and rinse adhesive system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sum of 80 extracted human mandibular molars was collected and assessed using ICDAS criteria. Randomly CAD samples were treated with different disinfectants (n = 20) each CHX, PC, GTE, and PP. After ensuring disinfection, specimens were rehabilitated with bulk-fill composite resin employing etch and rinse adhesive system. SBS testing was performed by engaging (n=10) specimens in a universal testing machine. Microleakage analysis was performed by using the dye penetration technique.A stereomicroscope under 40× magnification was utilized for analyzing failure modes. Statistical analysis was accomplished by using the ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests (p<0.05). RESULTS: Highest bond strength was displayed by CAD disinfection with CHX and bonded to resin cement (15.33 ± 0.14 MPa). Whereas, the lowest SBS bond value was presented by Group 2 dentin surface disinfection with PC. CAD disinfected with GTE, PP and CHX demonstrated comparable SBS(p>0.05). The maximum microleakage score was exhibited when CAD bonded to resin cement disinfected with PP. While the minimum microleakage score was unveiled CAD bonded to resin cement sanitized with CHX CONCLUSION: Caries-affected dentin bonded to resin cement, chlorhexidine exhibited the highest adhesive shear bond strength with a minimal microleakage score using etch and rinse adhesive system.

Adsorption and removal of organophosphorus pesticides from Chinese cabbages and green onions by using metal organic frameworks based on the mussel-inspired adhesive interface.

Based on the mussel-inspired adhesive interface (Fe3O4-g-C3N4@PDA), a novel bionic metal-organic framework (Fe3O4-g-C3N4-PDA@MIL-101) was successfully prepared. The composite featured a high specific surface area and a multi-microchannel structure, as well as strong thermochemical stability. The structural property of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-PDA@MIL-101(Fe) was characterized, and the results indicated that Fe3O4, PDA, and MIL-101(Fe) were uniformly coated on the g-C3N4 surface. The adsorption and desorption of organophosphorus pesticides with Fe3O4-g-C3N4-PDA@MIL-101(Fe) were evaluated by batch experiments. This composite showed high adsorption efficiency and selective removal of coralox, phosalone, and chlorpyrifos. Under the optimal conditions, three organophosphorus pesticides were adsorbed from Chinese cabbage and green onion samples with Fe3O4-g-C3N4-PDA@MIL-101(Fe). The analytical method exhibited high sensitivity (LOD, 0.19-2.34 µg/L; LOQ, 0.65-7.82 µg/L), excellent practicality, and good stability, suggesting that Fe3O4-g-C3N4-PDA@MIL-101 was an ideal candidate magnetic adsorbent for the removal of organophosphorus pesticides in Chinese cabbage and green onion samples.

Self-Adhesive and Antioxidant Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/Alginate-Based Bilayer Films Loaded with Malva sylvestris Extracts as Potential Skin Dressings.

Malva sylvestris (MS) is a medicinal herb known worldwide for its beneficial effects due to the several active molecules present in its leaves and flowers. These compounds have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and thus can be helpful in treatments of burns and chronic wounds, characterized mainly by high levels of free radicals and impairments of the inflammatory response. In this work, we propose bilayer films as wound dressings, based on poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and sodium alginate loaded with M. sylvestris extracts from leaves and flowers and fabricated by combining solvent-casting and rod-coating methods. The top layer is produced in two different PVP/alginate ratios and loaded with the MS flowers' extract, while the bottom layer is composed of PVP and MS leaves' extract. The bilayers were characterized morphologically, chemically, and mechanically, while they showed superior self-adhesive properties on human skin compared to a commercial skin patch. The materials showed antioxidant activity, release of the bioactive compounds, and water uptake property. Moreover, the anthocyanin content of the flower extract provided the films with the ability to change color when immersed in buffers of different pH levels. In vitro tests using primary keratinocytes demonstrated the biocompatibility of the MS bilayer materials and their capacity to enhance the proliferation of the cells in a wound scratch model. Finally, the best performing MS bilayer sample with a PVP/alginate ratio of 70:30 was evaluated in mice models, showing suitable resorption properties and the capacity to reduce the level of inflammatory mediators in UVB-induced burns when applied to an open wound. These outcomes suggest that the fabricated bilayer films loaded with M. sylvestris extracts are promising formulations as active and multifunctional dressings for treating skin disorders.

Correlations between rheological and mechanical properties of fructo-polysaccharides extracted from Ornithogalum billardieri as biobased adhesive for biomedical applications.

Polysaccharides are extracted from Ornithogalum by maceration using different ultrasound (US) treatment times (0%US, 50%US, 100%US), and under optimized extraction conditions (OP%US). The total carbohydrates content (TCC) and proteins content of the extracts were determined. Data show that the extraction parameters significantly influence the extracts composition. Rheological measurements allowed determining the liquid, intermediate and gel states of the extract's solutions. The adhesion strength of the solutions was evaluated on paper and polylactide (PLA) substrates to evaluate their potential as environmentally friendly adhesive. OP%US presents the highest adhesion strength (1418.3 kPa) on paper, and is further tested on pork skin substrates. The adhesion strength is higher on skin/paper (870 kPa) than on skin/skin (411 kPa) substrate due to the capillary force of paper which allows penetration of adhesive into the micropores of paper. The correlation between rheological properties and adhesion strength indicates that the adhesion strength strongly depends on the state of adhesives and the substrate type. SEM analyses show that higher adhesion strength (intermediate and gel states) involves both cohesive and adhesive failure, whereas only adhesive failure is observed in liquid state on PLA substrates. Therefore, these polysaccharides extracts could be very promising as tissue adhesive in medical applications.

Use of Nd:YVO4 laser, photodynamic therapy, sulfuric acid and sand blasting on improving bond integrity of PEEK to resin cement with adhesive.

AIM: The present study aimed to inspect and compare several PEEK surface treatments modifications using Photodynamic therapy (PDT), Neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate (Nd:YVO4) laser, Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), and sandblasting (SB) when bonded to composite resin via an adhesive system MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred disk-shaped PEEK specimens were prepared by CAD-CAM milling and randomly distributed into five groups based on surface treatment methods: group1: Control (no treatment), group 2: PDT, group 3: Nd:YVO4 laser, group 4: H2SO4 and group 5 sandblasting. Later bonding was pursued using resin cement with an adhesive system. Measurements of surface roughness employing a surface profilometer, water contact angle by the static drop method, SBS by universal Testing machine, and failure modes of de-bonded PEEK specimens by Stereomicroscope were attained. Execution of statistical analysis was performed by two-way analysis of variance ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test (p>0.05). The Shapiro-Wilk normality test and Bartlett's test for homoscedasticity were also performed. RESULTS: The highest SBS was exhibited by Nd:YVO4 laser (16.33 ± 0.71 MPa) and the lowest SBS was observed in the control group (9.4 ± 1.02). However, PEEK specimen luted with resin cement treated with PDT (16.21 ± 0.14 MPa) and H2SO4 (15.23 ± 0.63 MPa) displayed a comparable SBS to Nd:YVO4 laser (p>0.05). The results of Ra exhibited that PEEK material when exposed to Nd:YVO4 laser (15.252 ± 1.581 µm) unveiled the highest Ra. Nd:YVO4 laser (131.25 ± 2.9 µm) and PDT (130.24 ± 3.7 µm) showed comparable WCA values (p>0.05).Adhesive failure was dominant. CONCLUSION: PEEK surface treated with photodynamic therapy and Neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate laser and bonded to composite resin via an adhesive system significantly improved shear bond strength, surface roughness, and water contact angle.

Efficacy and safety of skin-adhesive low-level light therapy for overactive bladder: a Phase III study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition that remains challenging to treat. We hypothesized that skin-adhesive low-level light therapy (LLLT) would be an effective treatment for OAB caused by bladder muscle contraction. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an LLLT device for the treatment of OAB. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial included patients with a clinical diagnosis of OAB who were treated at either of two university hospitals. Patients were instructed to apply an LLLT device (Color DNA-WSF) or a sham device at home three times daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the mean daily number of urge urinary incontinence (UUI) episodes between baseline and 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes were the mean changes in incontinence, voiding, and nocturia episodes from baseline and the likelihood of achieving a > 50% reduction in UUI and incontinence episodes after 12 weeks. All patients completed the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), and Impact Urinary Incontinence-7 (IIQ-7) questionnaires. Safety parameters included treatment-emergent adverse events. RESULTS: Compared with those in the sham group, the numbers of UUI and urinary incontinence episodes in the LLLT group were significantly decreased at week 12 (UUI, (-1.0 ± 1.7 vs. -0.4 ± 2.5, P = 0.003; urinary incontinence, -1.1 ± 1.9 vs. -0.5 ± 2.9, P=0.002). Furthermore, the OABSS, UDI-6, and IIQ-7 scores at week 12 tended to be better in the LLLT group than in the sham group. The incidence of device-related treatment-emergent adverse events was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: LLLT may be clinically useful and safe for the treatment of OAB.

Conversion of soybean oil extraction wastes into high-performance wood adhesives based on mussel-inspired cation-π interactions.

As a soybean oil extractive byproduct, high temperature defatted soy meal (HSM) presents great potential as a raw material for vegetable protein adhesives to replace aldehyde-based adhesives in the wood-based panel production. However, the application has been hindered by its poor cold-pressing adhesive performance. Herein, a novel HSM-based adhesive with excellent cold-pressing adhesion performance was developed based on mussel-inspired cation-π interactions. Highly reactive polyamidoamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) and folic acid (FA) were added into an HSM-based adhesive to construct a dual-network system stabilized by strong cation-π interactions. The coacervate formed by PAE and FA served as an "internal adhesive" to bond HSM particles together, yielding high initial viscosity but easy sizing. As expected, the prepared adhesive exhibited an excellent cold-pressing bonding strength of 423 kPa, showing a 295% improvement compared to the soy protein (SP) adhesive. To improve the hot-pressing bonding strength of the adhesives, inorganic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles were introduced into the adhesive system to build an organic-inorganic hybrid adhesive system. The wet shear strength of the SPAE-FA-CaCO3 adhesive significantly improved from 0.63 MPa to 0.96 MPa, meeting the requirements for the practical application. This method provides a novel strategy to exploit high-performance vegetable protein-based wood adhesives.