1,720,973 research outputs found
Novel Poly(urethane-aminoamides). An in vitro study of the interaction with heparin.
In order to obtain heparin-binding polyurethanes, tertiary amino-groups have been introduced in the polymer backbone by attributing a key-role to the chain extender, i.e. substituting butanediol, commonly used in polyurethane synthesis, with a tailor-made diamino-diamide-diol. In this work a poly(ether-urethane-aminoamide) (PEU/PIME/al) was obtained with poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol 2000, 1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate and the new chain extender, in the molar ratio 1:2:1. The heparin binding capacity of PEU/PIME/al was evaluated with 125I labelled heparin, using for comparison the analogous polymer obtained with a diamide-diol (i.e. the poly(ether-urethane-amide) PEU/PIBLO/al), and two commercially available biomedical polyurethanes (Pellethane 2363 and Corethane). pH and ionic strength dependence of the heparin uptake were investigated by treating all the polyurethanes with solutions of 125I heparin into buffers from pH 4 to 9 or NaCl molarity from 0.0 to 1.0. The stability of the interaction with bound heparin was investigated by sequential washing treatments (PBS, 1 N NaOH, 2% SDS solution), then analysing the residual radioactivity on the materials. Results indicated that the heparin binding of PEU/PIME/al is significantly higher and more stable than that of the other polyurethanes, with a time-dependent kinetic. The interaction with heparin appears to be prevalently ionic, with the contribution of other electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), performed on human plasma with polyurethane-coated, heparinized test tubes, indicate
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PIPERAZINE-DERIVED POLY(AMIDO-AMINE)S WITH DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTIONS OF AMIDO-GROUP AND AMINO-GROUP ALONG THE MACROMOLECULAR CHAIN
Ability of polyurethane foams to support cell proliferation and the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts
In bone tissue reconstruction, the use of engineered constructs created by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that differentiate and proliferate into three-dimensional porous scaffolds is an appealing alternative to autologous and heterologous bone grafts. Scaffolds considered in this work are represented by polyurethane (PU) foams. Two PU foams (EG-1 and EC-2) were synthesized and characterized for morphology, mechanical properties and in vitro interaction with the osteoblast-like cell line MG63 and MSCs from human bone marrow. EC-1 and EC-2 showed similar densities (0.20 g cm(-3)) with different morphologies: EC-1 showed a more homogeneous pore size (average Phi = 691 mu m) and distribution, with a 35% open porosity, whereas EC-2 evidenced a wide range of pore dimension, with an average pore size of 955 mu m and a 74% open porosity. The compressive properties of the two foams were similar in the dry condition and both showed a strong decrease in the wet condition. In vitro tests showed good MG63 cell proliferation, as confirmed by the results of the MTT assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, with a higher cell viability on EC-2 foam 7 days post-seeding. In the experiments with MSCs, SEM observations showed the presence of an inorganic phase deposition starting day 7 onto EC-1, day 14 onto EC-2. The inorganic particles (CaP) deposition was much more evident onto the pore surface of both foams at day 30, indicating good differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts. Both PU foams therefore appeared to stimulate cell adhesion and proliferation in vitro, sustaining the MSCs' growth and differentiation into osteoblasts
Poly(ethylene glycol) and hydroxy functionalized alkane phosphate self-assembled monolayers reduce bacterial adhesion and support osteoblast proliferation.
PURPOSE:
Presently there is interest today in designing improved titanium surfaces capable of high bioactivity in order to promote strong anchorage of the bone surrounding implants while at the same time discouraging bioadhesion. Poly(ethylene glycol)-modified (PEG) alkane phosphate and OH-terminated alkane phosphates have been demonstrated to be spontaneously adsorbed onto titanium oxide surfaces and produce surfaces with different protein resistance in relation to the PEG surface density. This study aims to evaluate caries-associated Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) adhesion and osteoblast proliferation while varying the PEG surface density of titanium surfaces.
METHODS:
Bacterial adhesion was quantified by fluorescence microscopy and SAOS-2 human osteoblast proliferation was evaluated up to 7 days of culture in vitro. Metabolic activity of osteoblasts was measured by MTT test and the secretion of extracellular matrix proteins (osteopontin, osteocalcin and type I collagen) in culture medium was determined by immunoenzymatic assays.
RESULTS:
As the PEG surface density increased, the bacterial adhesion considerably decreased when compared to uncoated titanium surfaces. The monomolecular coatings proved to be capable of supporting osteoblast proliferation with the greatest levels of metabolic activity at the highest PEG surface concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results are extremely promising for potential clinical application in implant uses where both reduction of bacteria adhesion and stimulation of bone formation are highly desirable
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