ABSTRACT
In order to enable advanced technological applications of nanocrystal composites, e.g., as functional coatings and layers in flexible optics and electronics, it is necessary to understand and control their mechanical properties. The objective of this study was to show how the elasticity of such composites depends on the nanocrystals' dimensionality. To this end, thin films of titania nanodots (TNDs; diameter: ~3-7 nm), nanorods (TNRs; diameter: ~3.4 nm; length: ~29 nm), and nanoplates (TNPs; thickness: ~6 nm; edge length: ~34 nm) were assembled via layer-by-layer spin-coating. 1,12-dodecanedioic acid (12DAC) was added to cross-link the nanocrystals and to enable regular film deposition. The optical attenuation coefficients of the films were determined by ultraviolet/visible (UV/vis) absorbance measurements, revealing much lower values than those known for titania films prepared via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed a homogeneous coverage of the substrates on the µm-scale but a highly disordered arrangement of nanocrystals on the nm-scale. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses confirmed the presence of the 12DAC cross-linker after film fabrication. After transferring the films onto silicon substrates featuring circular apertures (diameter: 32-111 µm), freestanding membranes (thickness: 20-42 nm) were obtained and subjected to atomic force microscopy bulge tests (AFM-bulge tests). These measurements revealed increasing elastic moduli with increasing dimensionality of the nanocrystals, i.e., 2.57 ± 0.18 GPa for the TND films, 5.22 ± 0.39 GPa for the TNR films, and 7.21 ± 1.04 GPa for the TNP films.
ABSTRACT
The present experimental study sought to determine the effect of high-dose irradiation on the rat mandible in order to establish an experimental model of radiogenic bone damage. The left mandibles of 20 adult Wistar rats were irradiated (single fraction 1500cGy, total dose 60Gy) by means of a hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (hfSRT) over a period of 6 weeks. Follow-up was 6 weeks (group 1, n=10) and 12 weeks (group 2, n=10). The contralateral mandibles as well as 5 non-irradiated animals served as controls. Primary endpoints were fibrosis, loss of cell count, decreased immunohistochemical labelling for bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and osteocalcin as well as increased expression of transforming growth factor (TGF-beta). Cell loss, progressive fibrosis, and focal necrosis were detected in all irradiated sites. Quantitative measurement revealed 32.0+/-8.7% and 37.3+/-9.5% empty osteocyte lacunae for groups 1 and 2 resp., compared to 16.3+/-4.7% and 18.9+/-4.9% on the contralateral side and 7.9+/-1.7% for unirradiated controls (Mann-Whitney U test; p<.01). BMP-2 and osteocalcin labelling showed a marked decrease in irradiated and contralateral sides while TGF-beta was expressed strongly in irradiated sites only (for all p<.05). External hypofractionated irradiation with a total dose of 60Gy is feasible in rats and yields all histologic changes attributed to osteoradionecrosis (ORN) after a follow-up of 6 weeks. The irradiation protocol is suitable for an assessment of regenerative options in severe radiogenic bone damage. As a split mouth design entails major inaccuracies healthy animals have to be used as controls.
