壳聚糖—明胶混合膜的制备及其生物降解性研究

将壳聚糖与明胶按一定比例混合制膜，通过体外降解及动物体内实验研究了其降解性和生物相容性，结果表明壳聚糖－明胶混合膜在小鼠体现人降解速度较快，并具有较好的生物相容性，溶菌酶对混合膜的生物降解有促进作用。     

生物降解性防术后粘连膜的实验研究

本文首次采用新型医用天然高分子材料壳聚糖作膜材料，制备了可降解吸收防术后粘连膜，并通过动物实验研究其生物降解性和生物相容性．初步研究结果表明，壳聚糖具有很好的成膜性。壳聚糖膜在小鼠体内可以缓慢降解，并具有较好的生物相容性，是一种很有发展前景的天然防术后粘连膜材料。     

三层式nCHAC/PLGA复合膜体外降解行为的研究

目的探讨引导组织再生性复合膜-纳米碳羟磷灰石/胶原/聚乳酸羟基乙酸复合膜(nCHAC/PLGA) 在体外的生物降解行为。方法根据牙周治疗的特点,功能分级材料nCHAC/PLGA膜制备成三层,即8wt％ nCHAC PLGA/4wt％nCHAC PLGA/PLGA。其中一面为多孔结构,利于细胞在其上生长;另一面表面光滑,籍此抑制细胞的粘附。以纯聚乳酸羟基乙酸(PLGA)膜作为对照,将样本浸泡在37℃人工唾液中,比较两者生物降解行为。结果膜重量持续减轻,nCHAC/PLGA三层式功能分级复合膜在4周后重量减少23．1％, 12周后减少88％;单层纯聚乳酸羟基乙酸膜在4周后重量减轻30．7％,12周后减轻98．9％。处理4周后,因纳米碳羟磷灰石的降解,介质中钙离子浓度显著增加。另外,浸泡nCHAC/PLGA膜的溶液pH值略高于浸泡纯PLGA膜者,提示nCHAC复合物可能对溶液中PLGA酸性产物具中和作用。实验过程中,测试样本整体原形能维持4周,8周和12周时变成粉末状。扫描电镜结果显示,随着浸泡时间延长,膜的8wt％ nCHAC PLGA多孔疏松面增加,PLGA致密光滑面亦出现小孔结构。结论复合膜的降解过程符合牙周修复的实际过程;此外,复合膜表面形成新的矿物结构,将对体内新骨再生起积极效应。     

Comparison of Di-n-methyl Phthalate Biodegradation by Free and Immobilized Microbial Cells

Objective To compare the biodegradation of di-n-methyl pathalate by free and immobilized microbial cells. Methods The enrichment and isolation technique was used to isolate the microorganism. The PAV-entrapment method was utilized to immobilize the microorganisms. The scanning electron microscophy (SEM) was used to observe the growth and distribution of microbial cells immobilized inside the PVA bead gels. The GC/MS method was used to identify the main intermediates of DMP degradation. Results The microbial cells could grow quite well in PVA gel.The metabolic pathway did not change before and after immobilization of the microbial cells. The degradation rate of immobilized cells was higher than that of flee cells. Conclusion The immobilized microbial cells possess advantages than free cells when applied to the biodegradation of toxic organic pollutants.     

An ecotoxicological approach to microplastics on terrestrial and aquatic organisms: A systematic review in assessment,monitoring and biological impact

Marine and land plastic debris biodegrades at micro- and nanoscales through progressive fragmentation. Oceanographic model studies confirm the presence of up to ∼2.41 million tons of microplastics across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian subtropical gyres. Microplastics distribute from primary (e.g., exfoliating cleansers) and secondary (e.g., chemical deterioration) sources in the environment. This anthropogenic phenomenon poses a threat to the flora and fauna of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as ingestion and entanglement cases increase over time. This review focuses on the impact of microplastics across taxa at suggested environmentally relevant concentrations, and advances the groundwork for future ecotoxicological-based research on microplastics including the main points: (i) adhesion of chemical pollutants (e.g., PCBs); (ii) biological effects (e.g., bioaccumulation, biomagnification, biotransportation) in terrestrial and aquatic organisms; (iii) physico-chemical properties (e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers) and biodegradation pathways in the environment (e.g., chemical stress, heat stress); and (iv) an ecotoxicological prospect for optimized impact assessments.     

Biodegradation of Titanium Implants After Long-Time Insertion Used for the Treatment of Fractured Upper and Lower Jaws Through Osteosynthesis: Element Analysis by Electron Microscopy and EDX or EELS

Twelve patients underwent an osteosynthesis with titanium to treat upper and lower jaw fractures. Six to 12 months later, the miniplates were removed. Tissue samples were analyzed by light and electron microscopy for detection of a metallosis. The analysis showed new bone formation like callus tissue around the miniplates. In some cases small, rounded deposits and accumulation of colloid-like particles located next to bigger titanium artifacts were detected in the cytoplasm of histiocytes and in the matrix of connective tissue. The titanium was identified by elemental analysis using EDX in SEM as well as by EELS and electron diffraction in TEM. Both kinds of particles contain titanium, but they seem to be different in composition and derivation. The bigger particles seem to consist of metallic titanium and sourced by working on the metallic implants during the implantation itself. On the other hand, the colloidal-like, small, rounded particles in tissue macrophages and outside the cells in the matrix of connective tissue are presumably of other origin; for example, they could be derived from biodegradation and chemical conversion of the metallic implants. The titanium miniplates were examined before and after implantation by using ESCA technique and revealed metallic titanium and different compositions with other elements. The amount of titanium load of the tissue was very low in most cases and presumably not of biomedical relevance.     

The formation of an organic coat and the release of corrosion microparticles from metallic magnesium implants

Magnesium alloys have been proposed as prospective degradable implant materials. To elucidate the complex interactions between the corroding implants and the tissue, magnesium implants were analyzed in a mouse model and the response was compared to that induced by Ti and by the resorbable polymer polyglactin, respectively. One month after implantation, distinct traces of corrosion were apparent but the magnesium implants were still intact, whereas resorbable polymeric wound suture implants were already fragmented. Analysis of magnesium implants 2 weeks after implantation by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated that magnesium, oxygen, calcium and phosphate were present at the implant surface. One month after implantation, the element composition of the outermost layer of the implant was indicative of tissue without detectable levels of magnesium, indicating a protective barrier function of this organic layer. In agreement with this notion, gene expression patterns in the surrounding tissue were highly similar for all implant materials investigated. However, high-resolution imaging using energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy revealed magnesium-containing microparticles in the tissue in the proximity of the implant. The release of such corrosion particles may contribute to the accumulation of calcium phosphate in the nearby tissue and to bone conductive activities of magnesium implants.     

Dual photoacoustic/ultrasound multi-parametric imaging from passion fruit-like nano-architectures

Ultrasound (US) imaging is a well-established diagnostic technique to image soft tissues in real time, while photoacoustic (PA) is an emerging imaging technique employed to collect molecular information. Integration of PA and US imaging provides complementary information enhancing diagnostic accuracy without employing ionizing radiations. The development of contrast agents able to combine PA and US features is pivotal to improve the significance of PAUS imaging and for PAUS-guided treatment of neoplasms. Here, we demonstrate in relevant ex-vivo models that disassembling passion fruit-like nano-architectures (pfNAs) can be employed in PAUS imaging. pfNAs are composed by silica nanocapsules comprising aggregates of commercial NIR-dyes-modified polymers and ultrasmall gold nanoparticles. The intrinsic US and PA features of pfNAs have been fully characterized and validated in tissue-mimicking materials and in ex vivo preparations. Moreover, the application of a multi-parametric approach has allowed the increase of information extrapolated from collected images for a fine texture analysis.