Study on machinable glass-ceramic containing fluorophlogopite for dental CAD/CAM system.

The glass-ceramic mainly containing fluorophlogopite is one of widely used dental ceramics. In the K2O-CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-F system, a new-type glass-ceramic containing fluorophlogopite Ca-mica has been synthesized. Its crystalline was studied by XRD and EDS. The fluorophlogopite whose formula postulated K(1 - X )Ca( X/2)Mg(3)AlSi(3)O(10)F(2) was its main crystalline. The microstructure of the glass-ceramic displayed typical machinable microstructure with lath like crystals isolated and interlocking with different aspect ratio. The material also showed better bending strength (228.11 +/- 7.55 MPa). It took less than 12 minutes to fabricate a whole crown by dental CAD/CAM system with the glass-ceramic.

[On the active mechanism of hydroxyapatite modified by cold plasma].

The surface modification using cold plasma technique was introduced to hydroxyapatite(HA). The methods adopted in the study included the formation of bone-like apatite in simulated body fluid and the use of SEM, XPS and XRD. The results showed that the formation of bone-like apatite on HA modified by cold plasma was easier than that without modification. The active mechanism involves the impact of the particles with high energy and high activity against HA, which roughens and etches the surface of HA, heads to the distortion of HA crystal, and thus increases the dissolvability of HA and the local concentration of the Ca and P ions. This approach is helpful to the formation of bone-like appetite. The data demonstrate that the surface modification using cold plasma technique can increase the activity of HA.

Ectopic osteoinduction and early degradation of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2-loaded porous beta-tricalcium phosphate in mice.

The present study investigated the ectopic osteoinduction and early degradation of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2)-loaded porous beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) in mice. The porous beta-TCP with 50 microg of rhBMP-2 (n = 25) and porous beta-TCP (control group, n = 25) were implanted into muscle pouches in the right and left thigh of 28-day-old mice (n = 25), respectively. At every time point (3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after implantation), five mice were euthanized and the histological examinations of implantation sites were performed. In addition, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was also quantitatively analyzed. For the rhBMP-2-loaded group, blood vessel formation and immature cartilage was observed within the porous beta-TCP 3 days after implantation. Mature cartilage was observed 7 days after implantation of rhBMP-2-loaded porous beta-TCP. Newly formed woven bone, lamellar bone as well as marrow were observed 14 and 21 days after implantation of the rhBMP-2-loaded porous beta-TCP. Lamellar bone and marrow were observed 28 days after implantation of the rhBMP-2-loaded porous beta-TCP. For the control group, no bone or cartilage was observed at all time points. However, multinucleated giant cells and fibrous tissues were observed in the control group at 7 and 28 days after implantation, respectively. At 21 and 28 days after implantation, porous beta-TCP was observed to fragment indicating early degradation of the porous beta-TCP in both groups. In addition, ALP was observed to be significantly higher in the rhBMP-2-loaded beta-TCP as compared to the control beta-TCP. It was concluded from this study that the rhBMP-2-loaded porous beta-TCP induced blood vessel and ectopic bone formation.

[The effect of a simulated inflammation procedure in simulated body fluid on bone-like apatite formation on porous HA/beta-TCP bioceramics].

The formation of bone-like apatite on porous HA/beta-TCP bioceramics in dynamic simulated body fluid (SBF) undergoing a simulated inflammation procedure (pH = 6.5) was investigated in order to study the mechanism of osteoinduction and build a new method to choose biomaterials with better bioactivity. The results showed that the surface of porous HA/beta-TCP bioceramics which underwent a simulated inflammation procedure in dynamic SBF was more smooth. The light acidity in the simulated inflammation procedure would dissolve the fine grains and the parts possessing smaller curvature radius on the surface of porous HA/beta-TCP bioceramics, which would reduce the bioceramics solubility. Followed in normal SBF (pH = 7.4), the amount of bone-like apatite formed on the porous HA/beta-TCP bioceramics was less than that of porous HA/beta-TCP bioceramics incubation in normal SBF all along. The results also showed that the amount of bone-like apatite formed on the porous HA/beta-TCP bioceramics sintered by a microwave plasma was more than that of porous HA/beta-TCP bioceramics sintered by a conventional furnace.

[Study on high strength mica-based machinable glass-ceramic].

The phase constitution, microstructure and properties of a new type of machinable glass-ceramics containing fluorophlogopite-type (FPT) Ca-mica for used in restorative dentistry were investigated. According to the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive spectrometry(EDS), its main crystalline phases were FPT Ca-mica and t-ZrO2, together with few KxCa(1-x)/2Mg2Si4O10F2, m-ZrO2. The flexible strength was 235 MPa, which was nearly two times larger than that of the present mica-based dental materials, and the highest fracture toughness was 2.17 MPa.m1/2. The microstructure had a great effect on properties, the glass-ceramics contained a large volume, and the fine crystals showed higher strength. The material possessed typical microstructure of machinable glass-ceramics and displayed excellent machinability during drilling test and CAD/CAM.

[Noninvasive continuous measurement of blood glucose concentration via animal skin].

In this study we deliberated over the principles and methods and then took the noninvasive continuous measurement of blood glucose concentration through the skin of rabbits. The glucose oxidase sensor was made by covalent immobilization. The best making method of sensor and stable working condition were sifted. Ten female and 10 male adult white rabbits were allocated into the groups of the ante-ultrasound and post-ultrasound, the injection of glucose, and the high and low frequency ultrasounds. After the skin surface was treated by high or low frenquency ultrasound for 5 minutes on the rabbits, obvious changes (P < 0.01) of post-ultrasound and post-injection of glucose were observed by means of glucose oxidase sensor and microcurrent apparatus. After application of ultrasound to the skin of rabbits, the penetration of glucose through the rabbit skin increased obviously. The change of microcurrent signal that was exchanged by the glucose sensor correlated positively with the concentration of glucose of rabbit body. The blood glucose can be tested by the glucose sensor on the skin surface of living animal.