An injectable chitosan-based hydrogel reinforced by oxidized nanocrystalline cellulose and mineral trioxide aggregate designed for tooth engineering applications

The complex anatomy of teeth limits the accessibility and efficacy of regenerative treatments. Therefore, the application of well-known inducers as injectable hydrogels for the regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex is considered a promising approach. In this regard, this study aimed to develop an injectable hydrogel containing mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). The injectable chitosan/oxidized-nanocrystalline cellulose/MTA (CS/OCNC/MTA) hydrogels were prepared, and the physicochemical properties of these hydrogels were evaluated by TGA, FTIR, Rheological analysis, and SEM. Moreover, the effect of MTA on the swelling and degradability of scaffolds was assessed. The proliferative effects of synthesized hydrogels were also determined on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) by MTT assay. For induction of differentiation and biomineralization in these cells, the alkaline phosphatase activity and Alizarin Red S staining tests were performed in the presence of fabricated scaffolds. The proliferation of hDPSCs was significantly increased in the presence of these hydrogels. Moreover, the addition of MTA to hydrogel structure dramatically improved the differentiation of hDPSCs. These results suggested that this novel injectable hydrogel provides appropriate physiochemical properties and can be considered a promising scaffold for regenerative endodontic procedures.

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Development of a Novel Electrochemical Biosensor for Detection and Discrimination of DNA Sequence and Single Base Mutation in dsDNA Samples Based on PNA‐dsDNA Hybridization – a new Platform Technology

In spite of the extensive attention paid on the development of various DNA detection strategies, very few studies have been reported regarding direct detection of DNA sequence and mutation in dsDNA. Here, we describe the feasibility of detection and discrimination of target DNA sequences and single base mutations (SBM) directly in double‐stranded oligonucleotides and PCR products without the need for denaturation of the target dsDNA samples. This goal was achieved by employing a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) chain, self‐assembled on the gold electrode as a probe, which binds to dsDNA and forms PNA‐dsDNA hybrid.     

Effects of a small length scale on vibrations of an embedded double-walled carbon nanotube

Extensive continuum analyses are carried out to estimate the influence of matrix stiffness, a small length scale, and intertubular radial displacements on free vibrations of an individual double-walled carbon nanotybe. The analyses are based on both local and classical Euler–Bernoulli and Timoshenko elasticity theories with concentricity and nonconcentricity assumptions. The effect of a small length scale is incorporated in the formulations. New intertubular resonant frequencies are calculated based on these theories. Detailed results are demonstrated for the resonant frequencies as functions of matrix stiffness and the small length scale. The results indicate that the internal radial displacement and the stiffness of the surrounding matrix can greatly affect the resonant frequencies, especially at higher frequencies, and thus the latter does not keep the otherwise concentric structure at ultrahigh frequencies. More over, at high frequencies and small aspect ratios, the effect of the small length scale be comes more significant.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of CeIII and BiIII Complexes and Solution Studies of ZnII,CdII, PbII,CeIII, and BiIII Complexes Obtained from Proton Transfer Compounds Containing 2,6‐Pyridinedicarboxylate Ion

The two complexes (pydaH)₂[Ce(pydc)₂(H₂O)₂]₂ · 2H₂O (1) and (phenH)₂[Bi(pydc)₂(H₂O)]₂ · 5H₂O (2) were prepared from the proton transfer compounds containing the 2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylate ion. 1 was synthesized from the reaction of Ce(NO)₃ · 6H₂O with the proton transfer compound, (pydaH₂)(pydc), (pyda=2,6‐diaminopyridine, pydcH₂=2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid). 2 was synthesized from the reaction of proton transfer compound, (phenH)₂(pydc), (phen=1,10‐phenanthroline), with Bi(NO₃)₃ · 5H₂O. The characterization was carried out using IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. The complex 1 crystallizes in the space group of the triclinic system, and contains two molecules per unit cell. The structure has been refined to a final value for the crystallographic R factor of 0.0342 based on 8851 reflections. The unit cell parameters are: a = 9.753(2) Å, b = 10.503(2) Å, c = 10.774(2) Å, α = 83.905(4)°, β = 88.089(4)°, and γ = 82.636(3)°. The crystal structure illustrates that cerium atoms are connected together through the four‐membered ring Ce₂O₂. 2,6‐Pyridinedicarboxylate fragment acts as a tridentate ligand. The molecular structure contains four (pydc)^2? ligands, two of which are bridge ligands linking the two central atoms. The complex 2 crystallizes in the space group of the triclinic system and contains two molecules per unit cell. The unit cell dimensions are: a = 8.8860(4) Å, b = 12.0132(6) Å, c = 13.0766(6) Å, α = 100.967(1)°, β = 96.681(1)° and γ = 94.191(1)°. The structure has been refined to a final value for the crystallographic R factor of 0.0471 based on 9576 reflections. In this complex, 2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylate moiety has acted as a tridentate ligand and the lattice is composed of binuclear unit, [Bi(pydc)₂(H₂O)]₂^2?, (phenH)⁺ counter ions and five lattice waters. In both complexes hydrogen bonds, π‐π stacking and ion‐pairing play important roles in stabilizing the corresponding lattice. The stoichiometry and stability of the Zn^II, Cd^II, Pb^II, and Ce^III complexes with (pydaH₂)(pydc) in aqueous solution were investigated by potentiometric pH titration. The solution studies revealed that the stoichiometry of the crystalline complexes of the proton transfer system (pydaH₂)(pydc) with Ce^III, obtained in this study, and those with Zn^II, Cd^II and Pb^II, reported in our previous studies, are in close agreements. The complexation reactions of phen, pydc, and 2phen+pydc with Bi^III in aqueous solution were investigated by potentiometric pH titrations, and the equilibrium constants for all major complexes formed are described.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridinium dioxido(pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylato‐κ3O2,N,O6)vanadate(V) and its conversion to nanostructured V2O5

2‐Amino‐3‐hydroxypyridinium dioxido(pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylato‐κ³O²,N,O⁶)vanadate(V), (C₅H₇N₂O)[V(C₇H₃NO₄)O₂] or [H(amino‐3‐OH‐py)][VO₂(dipic)], (I), was prepared by the reaction of VCl₃ with dipicolinic acid (dipicH₂) and 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridine (amino‐3‐OH‐py) in water. The compound was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and X‐ray structure analysis, and consists of an anionic [VO₂(dipic)]⁻ complex and an H(amino‐3‐OH‐py)⁺ counter‐cation. The V^V ion is five‐coordinated by one O,N,O′‐tridentate dipic dianionic ligand and by two oxide ligands. Thermal decomposition of (I) in the presence of polyethylene glycol led to the formation of nanoparticles of V₂O₅. Powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the synthesized powder.     

Non-covalent intermolecular interactions of colloidal nematic liquid crystals doped with graphene oxide

Graphene oxide (GO) was doped to eutectic uniaxial nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) (E_5CN7) with different percentages to improve the physiochemical properties of NLCs effectively. GO shifts the N-I phase transition temperature to higher values. It has been observed that increasing GO concentration up to 0.75% increases the N-I phase transition temperature substantially while further increase of GO concentration results in an inverse trend. The GO/E_5CN7 non-covalent interactions change the N-I phase transition. The contribution of several terms such as anchoring and polarisation effects on N-I phase transition was quantified as well. The results suggest that the size is an important contributor to GO and liquid crystal interaction. The results show that E_5CN7@GO composites may act as promising candidates to enhance the efficiency of room temperature devices.     

Preparation of highly exfoliated polyester-clay nanocomposites: process-property correlations

A large number of polyester nanocomposite batches featuring different kinds of nanoclay surface modifiers and up to 6 wt % nanoclay were manufactured using a solvent-based technique. Montmorillonite platelets modified with ammonium ions of different chemical architectures were examined to study the effect of ammonium ions on the extent of surface reactions with long-chain fatty acids. The ammonium montmorillonite was first dispersed and suspended in acetone. This suspension was further esterificated with dotriacontanoic (lacceroic) acid to form high density brushes on the clay surface. This led to achieving higher basal plane spacing of the montmorillonite platelets due to the reduction of electrostatic interactions holding them. The outcome of the surface esterification was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The esterificated ammonium-modified clays were then mixed by five different mixing strategies based on the use of a three-roll mill mixer (TRM) and/or ultrasonication (US) to obtain the desired polyester-nanoclay dispersion, intercalation, and exfoliation. The dispersion states of the modified nanoclay in polymer were characterized from XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and low and high magnification transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of the resulting composites were experimentally characterized. The Mori-Tanaka method along with an orientation distribution function was used to verify the experimental effective stiffness of the polyester nanocomposite systems. The aspect ratio of nanoclays and their level of intercalation and/or exfoliation after mixing were also confirmed by the comparison of the experimental diffusivity results with those of Fick's diffusion model. Systems having 4 and 6 wt % esterificated ammonium nanoclay and prepared according to a combined TRM/US mixing procedure showed optimal performance with balanced properties and processing ease, thereby showing potential for use in the automotive, transportation, and packaging industries.     

Modeling and simulation of experimentally fabricated QDSSC using ZnS as light absorbing and blocking layer

Abstract—Two main factors which limit the power conversion efficiency of solar cells are light absorption and recombination processes. In photovoltaic (PV) devices, low energy photons cannot be absorbed and excite electrons from valance band to conduction band, hence do not contribute to the current. On the other hand, high energy photons cannot be efficiently used due to a poor match to the energy gap. Existence of charge recombination in PV devices causes the low conversion performance, which is indicated by the low open-circuit voltage (V _OC ). Using a blocking layer in system could effectively reduce the recombination of charge carriers. In this study, we simulated a solar cell with ITO/ZnO/P3HT&PCBM/Ag structure. To prevent the charge recombination, a ZnS QD layer was used which acts as a light absorbing and a recombination blocking layer in the ITO/ZnO film/ZnS QD/P3HT&PCBM/Ag structure. The simulated J–V characteristics of solar cells showed a close match with the experimental results. Simulate data showed an increase of conversion efficiency in ZnS QDSSC from 1.71 to 3.10%, which is relatively 81.28% increase.     

Transient entropy analysis of the magnetohydrodynamics flow of a Jeffrey fluid past an isothermal vertical flat plate

In this work, we derive analytical solutions for static structure factor for homogeneous and isotropic solution composed of two components interacting with each other via simple van der Waals potential which is inversely proportional to the sixth power of the distance between the two components. We assume that the first component is the solvent and the second component is the dissolved material which has low concentration or density in comparison to the concentration of the solvent, i.e. dilute solution, which is common for macromolecular fluids. The presented solution is obtained using direct and inverse Fourier transforms in solving Ornstein–Zernike equations (OZE) for multicomponent systems. We calculated isothermal compressibilities as a function of concentration and comparison with other simulation and theoretical results are presented. We believe that the presented solution can be useful in studying biomolecular fluids and other soft matter fluids.