Developmental roles of glomerular epithelial protein-1 in mice molar morphogenesis.

Glomerular epithelial protein-1 (Glepp1), a R3 subtype family of receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatases, plays important role in the activation of Src family kinases and regulates cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this study, we firstly examined the functional evaluation of Glepp1 in tooth development and morphogenesis. The precise expression level and developmental function of Glepp1 were examined by RT-qPCR, in situ hybridization, and loss and gain of functional study using a range of in vitro organ cultivation methods. Expression of Glepp1 was detected in the developing tooth germs in cap and bell stage of tooth development. Knocking down Glepp1 at E13 for 2 days showed the altered expression levels of tooth development-related signaling molecules, including Bmps, Dspp, Fgf4, Lef1, and Shh. Moreover, transient knock down of Glepp1 revealed alterations in cellular physiology, examined by the localization patterns of Ki67 and E-cadherin. Similarly, knocking down of Glepp1 showed disrupted enamel rod and interrod formation in 3-week renal transplanted teeth. In addition, due to attrition of odontoblastic layers, the expression signals of Dspp and the localization of NESTIN were almost not detected after knock down of Glepp1; however, their expressions were increased after Glepp1 overexpression. Thus, our results suggested that Glepp1 plays modulating roles during odontogenesis by regulating the expression levels of signaling molecules and cellular events to achieve the proper structural formation of hard tissue matrices in mice molar development.

The role of O-GlcNAcylation mediated by OGT during tooth development.

To understand the mechanisms underlying tooth morphogenesis, we examined the developmental roles of important posttranslational modification, O-GlcNAcylation, which regulates protein stability and activity by the addition and removal of a single sugar (O-GlcNAc) to the serine or threonine residue of the intracellular proteins. Tissue and developmental stage-specific immunostaining results against O-GlcNAc and O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) in developing tooth germs would suggest that O-GlcNAcylation is involved in tooth morphogenesis, particularly in the cap and secretory stage. To evaluate the developmental function of OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation, we employed an in vitro tooth germ culture method at E14.5, cap stage before secretory stage, for 1 and 2 days, with or without OSMI-1, a small molecule OGT inhibitor. To examine the mineralization levels and morphological changes, we performed renal capsule transplantation for one and three weeks after 2 days of in vitro culture at E14.5 with OSMI-1 treatment. After OGT inhibition, morphological and molecular alterations were examined using histology, immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, scanning electron microscopy, and ground sectioning. Overall, inhibition of OGT resulted in altered cellular physiology, including proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial rearrangements, with significant changes in the expression patterns of ß-catenin, fibroblast growth factor 4 (fgf4), and sonic hedgehog (Shh). Moreover, renal capsule transplantation and immunolocalizations of Amelogenin and Nestin results revealed that OGT-inhibited tooth germs at cap stage exhibited with structural changes in cuspal morphogenesis, amelogenesis, and dentinogenesis of the mineralized tooth. Overall, we suggest that OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation regulates cell signaling and physiology in primary enamel knot during tooth development, thus playing an important role in mouse molar morphogenesis.

Influence of Oxidative Etching Solution Temperatures on the Surface Roughness and Wettability of a Titanium Alloy.

Recently, a simple surface modification treatment of titanium (Ti) was developed to produce nano-and micro-scale features on the surfaces via simple immersion in an oxidative aqueous solution (30% hydrogen peroxide/5% sodium bicarbonate). However, this treatment method of Ti surfaces requires a relatively long immersion time (4 h) in the oxidative solution. In this study, we investigated whether an increase in the temperature of the oxidative etching solution can shorten the immersion time of Ti effectively. Polished grade 5 dental Ti (Ti-6Al-4V) discs were immersed in the oxidative aqueous solution either for 30 or 60 min. The temperature of the etching solution was maintained at 25 (similar to room temperature), 35, or 45 °C during etching. The etched surfaces were studied in terms of micro- and nano-structures, surface roughness, and wettability (surface energy). The increase in the temperature of the solution accelerated the etching effect of Ti and created both micro- and nano-structures on the surfaces more effectively. In particular, immersion for 60 min at the solution temperature of 35 °C significantly increased the surface roughness and wettability, although the etching effect was enhanced further at the solution temperature of 45 °C.

Effect of Post-Sintering Conditions on the Mechanical Properties of a New Co-Cr Alloy Produced by New Subtractive Manufacturing.

In this study, we investigated the effect of sintering temperature (1300, 1350, or 1400 °C) and holding time (1 or 2 h) on the mechanical properties of a cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy (Soft Metal) produced by milling/post-sintering, using a tensile test (n = 6). Prior to the test, the different nanostructures arising from the sintering conditions were also analyzed. The phase ratio of γ (face-centered cubic) phase to ɛ (hexagonal close-packed) phase increased mainly with increasing temperature. The formation of Cr23C6 carbide was greatest in the 1350 °C groups when compared to the other temperature groups. The 1400 °C groups had a substantially greater grain size than the 1300 °C and 1350 °C groups, together with a significant number of annealing twins inside the matrix phases. Overall, the 1350 °C groups showed the most superior properties. The 1400 °C groups showed a mean 0.2% yield strength under 500 MPa. The holding times did not significantly affect the mechanical properties (p > 0.05).

Marginal fit of metal-ceramic crowns fabricated by using a casting and two selective laser melting processes before and after ceramic firing.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Few studies have investigated changes in the marginal fit of metal-ceramic restorations fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) techniques after the application of veneering ceramic. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the marginal fit (silicone replica technique) and internal porosity (cross-section analysis) of cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy metal crowns prepared by using 2 SLM processes together with a casting technique before and after ceramic veneering. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cast single Co-Cr crowns and SLM-processed crowns with large (SLML) or small (SLMS) porosity were prepared (n=20/group), and half were subjected to ceramic veneering. On a single Co-Cr master die, the marginal discrepancy (MD) and absolute marginal discrepancy (AMD) of the crowns were measured by using the silicone replica technique, in which each replica was cut into 4 sections before and after ceramic veneering (n=10 for each subgroup). After marginal fit measurements, each metal coping was cross-sectioned into 4 parts, and 5 rectangular optical microscope images were acquired on both outer corners of each quarter. The porosity was then calculated as the ratio of the black-to-white pixels on the binarized images. The data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA and the post hoc test (Tukey or Student t test) (α=.05). RESULTS: Before ceramic veneering, the 2 SLM groups showed significantly larger MDs than the casting group (56.4 ±10.4 µm) (P<.05). A significant increase in MD after ceramic veneering was detected only in the SLML group (P<.001). The AMD values showed a similar trend with MD values. The 2 SLM groups (in particular, SLML) showed a significantly higher amount of porosity than the casting group before ceramic veneering (P<.001). Only the SLML group showed a significant decrease in the amount of porosity after ceramic veneering (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, large internal porosity within the SLM-fabricated Co-Cr metal copings affected the marginal fit of the metal-ceramic crowns. However, all the MD values of the 3 groups were lower than the acceptable range even after the application of veneering ceramic.

Resin Bonding to Type IV Gold Alloy Conditioned with a Novel Mercapto Silane System: Effect of Incorporation of a Phosphate Monomer.

Self-assembled monolayers of thiols have been used to link a range of materials to planar gold surfaces or gold nanoparticles in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Novel mercapto silane systems are a promising alternative to dental noble metal alloys for enhanced resin bonding durability Goldbased alloys for full-cast restorations contain various base metal elements, which may bond to acidic functional monomers chemically, in addition to noble metal elements. This study examined how the additional incorporation of a phosphate monomer (di-2-hydroxyethyl methacryl hydrogenphosphate, DHP) into novel mercapto silane primer systems affected the resin bond strength to a type IV gold alloy pretreated with the primers. One of three commercial primers (Alloy Primer and M. L. Primer) and three experimental primer systems ((1) blend of γ-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (SPS) and γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) (both 1.0 wt%), (2) 1.0 wt% DHP-containing primer, and (3) blend of SPS, MPS, and DHP (each 1.0 wt%)) was applied to the alloy surfaces after sandblasting. Resin cylinders (diameter: 2.38 mm) were bonded to the surfaces and light-cured. All bonded specimens were stored in water at 37 °C for 24 h and then half of them additionally water immersed for 7 days (37 °C) and thermocycled 10,000 times before the shear bond strength test (n = 10). The mercapto silane systems (SPS + MPS) were found to show superior resin bonding durability to the commercial primers and the only DHP-containing primer, regardless of additional incorporation of the phosphate monomer.

Anchoring Mechanism of ZnO Nanoparticles on Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber Surfaces through a Modified Co-Precipitation Method to Improve Interfacial Contact and Photocatalytic Performance.

A facile three-step co-precipitation method is developed to synthesize graphitic carbon nanofibers (CNFs) decorated with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). By interchanging intermediate steps of the reaction processes, two kinds of nanohybrids are fabricated with stark morphological and physicochemical differences. The morphologies differ because of the different chemical environments of the NP/nanocluster formation. The hybrid with larger and non-uniform ZnO nanocluster size is formed in liquid phase and resulted in considerable interfacial defects that deteriorate the charge-transfer properties. The hybrid with smaller and uniform ZnO NPs was formed in a dry solid phase and produced near-defect-free interfaces, leading to efficient charge transfer for superior photocatalytic performance. The results broaden the understanding of the anchoring/bonding mechanism in ZnO/CNF hybrid formation and may facilitate further development of more effective exfoliation strategies for the preparation of high-performance composites/hybrids.

Morphology-dependent low macroscopic field emission properties of titania/titanate nanorods synthesized by alkali-controlled hydrothermal treatment of a metallic Ti surface.

One-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) titania/titanate nanostructures are fabricated directly on a self-source metallic titanium (Ti) surface via in situ surface re-construction of a Ti substrate using potassium hydroxide (KOH) under a hydrothermal (HT) condition. The effect of temperature and the concentration of KOH on the variations in morphology and titania-to-titanate phase changes are studied and explained in detail. A growth model is proposed for the formation process of the platelet-to-nanorod conversion mechanism. The field emission (FE) properties of titania/titanate nanostructures are studied, and the effects of the morphologies (such as 1D nanorods, 2D nanoplatelets, and a mixture of 1D nanorods and 2D platelets) on the FE properties of the samples are investigated. The samples depict a reasonable low turn-on field and emission stability. The FE mechanism is observed to follow standard Fowler-Nordheim (FN) electron tunneling. The geometrical field enhancement factor (ß) is measured to be very high, and is compared with theoretical values calculated from various existing models to explore the feasibility of these models. The surface modification of metallic Ti by a simple non-lithographic bottom-up method and the low-macroscopic FE properties can provide a potential alternative to field emission displays for low-power panel technology.

Biofilm formation on a TiO2 nanotube with controlled pore diameter and surface wettability.

Titania (TiO2) nanotube arrays (TNAs) with different pore diameters (140 - 20 nm) are fabricated via anodization using hydrofluoric acid (HF) containing ethylene glycol (EG) by changing the HF-to-EG volume ratio and the anodization voltage. To evaluate the effects of different pore diameters of TiO2 nanotubes on bacterial biofilm formation, Shewanella oneidensis (S. oneidensis) MR-1 cells and a crystal-violet biofilm assay are used. The surface roughness and wettability of the TNA surfaces as a function of pore diameter, measured via the contact angle and AFM techniques, are correlated with the controlled biofilm formation. Biofilm formation increases with the decreasing nanotube pore diameter, and a 20 nm TiO2 nanotube shows the maximum biofilm formation. The measurements revealed that 20 nm surfaces have the least hydrophilicity with the highest surface roughness of ∼17 nm and that they show almost a 90% increase in the effective surface area relative to the 140 nm TNAs, which stimulate the cells more effectively to produce the pili to attach to the surface for more biofilm formation. The results demonstrate that bacterial cell adhesion (and hence, biofilm formation) can effectively be controlled by tuning the roughness and wettability of TNAs via controlling the pore diameters of TNA surfaces. This biofilm formation as a function of the surface properties of TNAs can be a potential candidate for both medical applications and as electrodes in microbial fuel cells.

Structure of single-wall carbon nanotubes: a graphene helix.

Evidence is presented in this paper that certain single-wall carbon nanotubes are not seamless tubes, but rather adopt a graphene helix resulting from the spiral growth of a nano-graphene ribbon. The residual traces of the helices are confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The analysis also shows that the tubular graphene material may exhibit a unique armchair structure and the chirality is not a necessary condition for the growth of carbon nanotubes. The description of the structure of the helical carbon nanomaterials is generalized using the plane indices of hexagonal space groups instead of using chiral vectors. It is also proposed that the growth model, via a graphene helix, results in a ubiquitous structure of single-wall carbon nanotubes.

Influence of different drying methods on microtensile bond strength of self-adhesive resin cements to dentin.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of different drying methods of dentin surface on the bonding efficacy of self-adhesive resin cements (SRCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three SRCs (RelyX U200, RU; Maxcem Elite, ME; and BisCem, BC) and one resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RelyX Luting 2, RL) were used. The characteristics of the materials were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis and surface roughness and contact angle measurements. Human dentin surfaces were finished with 600-grit silicon carbide paper and assigned to three groups according to these drying methods: ethanol dehydration, drying by waiting for 10 s after blot-drying and blot-drying. The four cements were used for luting composite overlays to the dried dentin. After 24 h storage at 37°C and 100% relative humidity, stick-shaped specimens with a cross-sectional area of 0.8 mm(2) were prepared and stressed to failure in tension at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min (n = 27). Failure modes of fractured specimens were assessed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: RL was the most hydrophilic, followed by BC and ME and then RU. All the luting cements luted to ethanol-dehydrated dentin showed zero bond strengths. For the three SRCs, drying by waiting produced higher microtensile bond strengths than blot-drying. RU showed the best bonding performance in the above two dentin conditions. RL showed significantly higher bond strength in blot-drying condition than in drying-by-waiting (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that dentin surface moisture has a crucial effect on the bond strength of SRCs.

Fabrication of alginate composite hydrogel encapsulated retinoic acid and nano Se doped biphasic CaP to augment in situ mineralization and osteoimmunomodulation for bone regeneration.

BACKGROUND: Bone tissue engineering endows alternates to support bone defects/injuries that are circumscribed to undergo orchestrated process of remodeling on its own. In this regard, hydrogels have emerged as a promising platform that can confront irregular defects and encourage in situ bone repair. METHODS: In this study, we aimed to develop a new approach for bone tissue regeneration by developing an alginate based composite hydrogel incorporating selenium doped biphasic calcium phosphate nanoparticles, and retinoic acid. The fabricated hydrogel was physiochemically evaluated for morphological, bonding, and mechanical behavior. Additionally, the biological response of the fabricated hydrogel was evaluated on MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells. RESULTS: The developed composite hydrogel confers excellent biocompatibility, and osteoconductivity owing to the presence of alginate, and biphasic calcium phosphate, while selenium presents pro osteogenic, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory properties. The hydrogels exhibited highly porous microstructure, superior mechanical attributes, with enhanced calcification, and biomineralization abilities in vitro. SIGNIFICANCE: By combining the osteoconductive properties of biphasic calcium phosphate with multifaceted benefits of selenium and retinoic acid, the fabricated composite hydrogel offers a potential transformation in the landscape of bone defect treatment. This strategy could direct a versatile and effective approach to tackle complex bone injuries/defects and present potential for clinical translation.

High-Performance Battery-Type Supercapacitors Based on Self-Oriented Growth of Nanorods/Nanospheres Composite Assembled on Self-Standing Conductive GO/CNF Frameworks.

MnOx-based materials have limited capacity and poor conductivity over various voltages, hampering their potential for energy storage applications. This work proposes a novel approach to address these challenges. A self-oriented multiple-electronic structure of a 1D-MnO2-nanorod/2D-Mn2O3-nanosphere composite was assembled on 2D-graphene oxide nanosheet/1D-carbon nanofiber (GO/CNF) hybrids. Aided by K+ ions, the MnO2 nanorods were partially converted to Mn2O3 nanospheres, while the GO nanosheets were combined with CNF through hydrogen bonds resulting in a unique double binary 1D-2D mixed morphology of MnO2/Mn2O3-GO/CNF hybrid, having a novel mechanism of multiple Mn ion redox reactions facilitated by the interconnected 3D network. The morphology of the MnO2 nanorods was controlled by regulating the potassium ion content through a rinsing strategy. Interestingly, pure MnO2 nanorods undergo air-annealing to form a mixture of nanorods and nanospheres (MnO2/Mn2O3) with a distinct morphology indicating pseudocapacitive surface redox reactions involving Mn2+, Mn3+, and Mn4+. In the presence of the GO/CNF framework, the charge storage properties of the MnO2/Mn2O3-GO/CNF composite electrode show dominant battery-type behavior because of the unique mesoporous structure with a crumpled morphology that provides relatively large voids and cavities with smaller diffusion paths to facilitate the accumulation/intercalation of charges at the inner electroactive sites for the diffusion-controlled process. The corresponding specific capacity of 800 C g-1 or 222.2 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 and remarkable cycling stability (95%) over 5000 cycles at 3 A g-1 were considerably higher than those of the reported electrodes of similar materials. Moreover, a hybrid supercapacitor device is assembled using MnO2/Mn2O3-GO/CNF as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode, which exhibits a superior maximum energy density (∼25 Wh kg-1) and maximum power density (∼4.0 kW kg-1). Therefore, the as-synthesized composite highlights the development of highly active low-cost materials for next-generation energy storage applications.

Unraveling the structure, chemical composition, and conserved signaling in leech teeth.

Unlike vertebrates, the number of toothed taxa in invertebrates is very few, with leeches being the only tooth-bearing organisms in the phylum Annelida. Copious studies have been conducted regarding vertebrate teeth; however, studies regarding the structure and function of invertebrate teeth are limited. In this study, the tooth structure of leeches, specifically Hirudo nipponia and Haemadipsa rjukjuana, was revealed, which showed sharp and pointed teeth along the apex of three jaws. Understanding conserved signaling regulations among analogous organs is crucial for uncovering the underlying mechanisms during organogenesis. Therefore, to shed light on the evolutionary perspective of odontogenesis to some extent, we conducted de novo transcriptome analyses using embryonic mouse tooth germs, Hirudo teeth, and Helobdella proboscises to identify conserved signaling molecules involved in tooth development. The selection criteria were particularly based on the presence of tooth-related genes in mice, Hirudo teeth, and Helobdella proboscis, wherein 4113 genes were commonly expressed in all three specimens. Furthermore, the chemical nature of leech teeth was also examined via TEM-EDS to compare the chemical composition with vertebrate teeth. The examination of tissue-specific genetic information and chemical nature between leeches and mice revealed chemical similarities between leech and mice teeth, as well as conserved signaling molecules involved in tooth formation, including Ptpro, Prickle2, and Wnt16. Based on our findings, we propose that leech teeth express signaling molecules conserved in mice and these conserved tooth-specific signaling for dental hard tissue formation in mice would corresponds to the structural formation of the toothed jaw in leeches.

Synthesis of B4C nanobelts in porous SiC bodies.

B4C nanobelts were synthesized in porous SiC bodies, which had a sponge structure. The interconnected pore size of the SiC bodies was around 600 microm. The raw materials used for the B4C nanobelts were B2O3 for boron and phenolic resin and carbon black for carbon. The nanobelts grew fully inside the porous SiC when heat treated at 1400 degrees C for 1 h using LiCl as a volatilizing agent and cobalt as a catalyst. The thickness of the rhombohedral B4C nanobelts ranged from 0.1 to 1 microm, and their width was 0.5 to 10 microm. The length of the grown B4C belts was up to several hundreds of micrometers, and their growth direction was [110]. These single crystal nanobelts did not show any structural defects such as stacking faults, steps and twins. The low temperature synthesis in this study is attributed for the clean surface. It is suggested that the nanobelts were nucleated by the VLS mechanism, and then grew by the VS mechanism.

Comparison of Biocompatibility of Three Soft Milled Cobalt-Chromium Alloys.

In the context of biology and medicine, nanotechnology encompasses the materials, devices, and systems whose structure and function are relevant for small length scales, from nanometers through microns. The purpose of this study was to compare the microstructures and resultant biocompatibility of three commercially available soft milled cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys (Ceramill Sintron, CS; Sintermetall, SML; and Soft Metal, SM). Disc-shaped specimens were prepared by milling the soft blanks and subsequent post-sintering. The crystal and microstructures of the three different alloys were studied using optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron backscatter diffraction. The amounts of Co, Cr, and molybdenum (Mo) ions released from the alloys were evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. The effect of ion release on the viability of L929 mouse fibroblasts was evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The SML alloy showed a finer grain size (approx. 5 µm) and a larger pore size (approx. 5 µm) than the CS and SM alloys, and its XRD pattern exhibited a slightly higher ε phase peak intensity than that of the γ phase. In the CS and SML alloys, the average crystallite sizes of the nano-sized Cr23C6 carbide were 21.6 and 19.3 nm, respectively. The SML alloy showed higher concentrations of Cr and Mo in the grain boundaries than the other two alloys. The SML alloy showed significantly higher Co and Mo ion releases (p < 0.001) and significantly lower cell viability (p < 0.05) than the CS and SM alloys. The combined results of this in vitro study suggest that the three soft milled Co-Cr alloys had different crystal and microstructures and, as a result, different levels of in vitro biocompatibility.

Evaluation of Resin Bonding to Tetragonal and Gradient-Shaded Cubic Zirconia Ceramics After Air-Abrasion.

Self-assembled nano-layering resulting from combined ionic and hydrogen-bonding interactions of phosphate functional monomers with zirconia have been proposed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the bond strengths of two phosphate monomer-containing adhesive resin cements (Panavia F 2.0 and RelyX U200) to a conventional tetragonal zirconia (Lava Plus, LP) and a new cubic zirconia (Lava Esthetic, LE), with three different shade zones, after air-abrasion. The structures of the zirconia surfaces were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of the surfaces were also evaluated using a hardness tester. After air-abrasion (with 50 µm Al2O3 at a pressure of 0.25 MPa), the surface roughness was measured using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and the resin cements were bonded (diameter: 2.38 mm) to the surfaces. All bonded specimens were stored in water at 37 °C for 24 h before performing the shear bond strength (SBS) test (n = 15). In the SEM images, the LP group showed a finer grain size than the LE groups. The XRD patterns confirmed that LP and LE had tetragonal and cubic phases, respectively. Although there were no significant differences in Vickers hardness among the four groups (p = 0.117), the three LE groups revealed inferior fracture toughness to the LP group (p < 0.001). However, neither the surface roughness of the air-abraded zirconia surfaces nor SBS values of each resin cement bonded to them were significantly different (p > 0.05). In conclusion, no significant difference in SBS value was detected between the tetragonal and cubic zirconia within each resin cement used, probably due to the similar surface roughness of the air-abraded zirconia ceramics.

Influence of Sandblasting Particle Size and Pressure on Resin Bonding Durability to Zirconia: A Residual Stress Study.

The influence of residual stress induced by sandblasting the zirconia ceramic surface on the resin bonding to the ceramic is still unclear. The effect of four different sandblasting conditions (with 50 and 110 µm alumina at pressures of 0.2 and 0.4 MPa) on the bonding of adhesive resin cement (Panavia F 2.0) to zirconia (Cercon® ht) was investigated in terms of residual stress. The surface roughness and water contact angle of the zirconia surfaces were measured. The tetragonal-to-monoclinic (t-m) phase transformation and residual stresses (sin2ψ method) were studied by X-ray diffraction. The resin-bonded zirconia specimens were subjected to shear bond strength (SBS) tests before and after thermocycling (10,000 and 30,000 cycles) (n = 10). As the particle size and pressure increased, the roughness gradually and significantly increased (p = 0.023). However, there were no significant differences in roughness-corrected contact angle among all the sandblasted groups (p > 0.05). As the particle size and pressure increased, the m-phase/(t-phase + m-phase) ratios and compressive residual stresses gradually increased. After thermocycling, there were no significant differences in SBS among the sandblasted zirconia groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, increased surface roughness and residual stress do not directly affect the resin bonding durability.

Application of a Novel CVD TiN Coating on a Biomedical Co-Cr Alloy: An Evaluation of Coating Layer and Substrate Characteristics.

Titanium nitride (TiN) was deposited on the surface of a cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy by a hot-wall type chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor at 850 °C, and the coating characteristics were compared with those of a physical vapor deposition (PVD) TiN coating deposited on the same alloy at 450 °C. Neither coating showed any reactions at the interface. The face-centered cubic (fcc) structure of the alloy was changed into a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) phase, and recrystallization occurred over at 10 µm of depth from the surface after CVD coating. Characteristic precipitates were also generated incrementally depending on the depth, unlike the precipitates in the matrix of the as-cast alloy. On the other hand, the microstructure and phase of the PVD-coated alloy did not change. Depth-dependent nano-hardness measurements showed a greater increase in hardness in the recrystallization zone of the CVD-coated alloy than in the bulk center of the alloy. The CVD coating showed superior adhesion to the PVD coating in the progressive scratch test. The as-cast, PVD-coated, and CVD-coated alloys all showed negative cytotoxicity. Within the limitations of this study, CVD TiN coating to biomedical Co-Cr alloy may be considered a promising alternative to PVD technique.

Formation of Nano/Micro Hierarchical Structures on Titanium Alloy Surface by a Novel Etching Solution.

A new effective oxidative solution for titanium (Ti) surface etching was recently developed. The present in vitro study was aimed at determining the influence of shorter (than 240 min) treatment time on the surface characteristics of the Ti nano/micro hierarchical structures. Cylinder-shaped Ti grade 5 alloys were etched for 30, 60, 120, and 240 min at room temperature and cleaned successively with acetone, ethanol, and distilled water in an ultrasonic bath. The micro- and nanostructures, surface roughness, dynamic wettability, and the surface elemental composition of the etched surfaces were evaluated. Nano/micro hierarchical structures, composed of micro-pits and nano-channels, were formed on the Ti surface through simple immersion in the oxidative solution. The findings suggest that the 120-min immersion yielded significant enhancement in the roughness and wettability of the Ti surfaces.