Complete experimental and theoretical characterization of nonlinear concentration gradient generator microfluidic device for analytical purposes.

Microfluidic devices that generate stable concentration gradients are efficient instruments for automated calibration for analytical and bioanalytical systems. However, little attention has been paid to the development of reusable microfluidic concentration gradient generators, which can be useful for a range of species through mathematical characterization. In this work, we develop a microfluidic device based on three steps of serial dilution that were able to generate nonlinear concentration gradient for dyes and biomolecules. The microfluidic device was described mathematically, statistically and was suitable for reusable analytical and bioanalytical analysis. The device reproducibility was assessed by experimental tests, which have shown the same gradient concentration profile for different dyes and statistical reproducibility with 95% confidence interval for bovine serum albumin (BSA). Moreover, the experimental data converged well with those  obtained by computational fluid dynamics simulation. Applicability was verified by coupling the microfluidic device to a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor, based on nanohole arrays with sensitivity of 358.7 nm RIU-1 determined by white-light SPR excitation exposed to different D-(+)-glucose aqueous solutions with 1.3361-1.4035 refractive index interval. The transmission light intensities obtained by the array of images allowed to quantify a pseudo-unknown BSA sample (160 µg mL-1) at 138 µg mL-1. The SPR analysis has been validated in parallel by fluorescence emissions, which showed a concentration of 154.8 ± 16.6 µg mL-1.

Insights into carbon nanotube-assisted electro-oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for mediated bioelectrocatalysis.

A series of polycyclic aromatics, naphthalene, phenanthrene, perylene, pyrene, 1-pyrenebutyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (pyrene NHS) and coronene, were immobilized via π stacking on carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes and electro-oxidized in aqueous solutions. The obtained quinones were characterized and evaluated for the mediated electron transfer with FAD dependent glucose dehydrogenase during catalytic glucose oxidation.

Physical-chemical properties of dental composites and adhesives containing silane-modified SBA-15.

The aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize mesoporous materials SBA-15 and SBA-15 modified with 3-(methacryloxy)-propyl-trimethoxysilane (MPS) to be used as inorganic filler in restorative dental composites and adhesives, and evaluate the main physical-chemical properties of the resulting material. The SBA-15 and SBA-15/MPS were characterized by FTIR, BET and X-Ray and combined with TEGDMA, bis-GMA and commercial spherical silica to produce dental composites. Afterwards, the mesoporous materials were combined with TEGDMA, bis-GMA and HEMA to make adhesives. To compare the results, composites and adhesives containing only commercial spherical silica were investigated. Some physical-chemical properties such as degree of conversion (DC), flexural strength (FS) and modulus (FM), water sorption and solubility (Wsp and Wsl), specific area (BET), and the leachable components were evaluated. The SBA-15/MPS can be used to prepare dental restorative materials, with some foreseeable advantages compared with pure SBA-15 dental materials and with improved properties compared with commercial spherical silica dental materials. An important improvement was that the dental materials based on modified SBA-15 presented a reduction of approximately 60% in leaching of unreacted monomers extracted by solvent compared to the control group.

Evaluation of three different decontamination techniques on biofilm formation, and on physical and chemical properties of resin composites.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated three different sterilization/disinfection techniques for resin composites on bacterial growth and surface modification after decontamination. METHODS: Two resin composites were sterilized/disinfected with three different techniques: UV light, 1% chloramine T, and 70% ethanol. Four different times were used for each technique to determine the shortest time that the solution or UV light was effective. The influence of sterilization/disinfection technique on bacterial growth was evaluated by analyzing the metabolic activity, using the AlamarBlue™ assay, bacterial viability, and SEM images from biofilms of Streptococcus mutans. The surface change, after the process, was analyzed with ATR/FTIR and SEM images. The solutions used for decontamination (1% chloramine-T and 70% ethanol) were analyzed with 1 H-NMR to identify any resin compounds leached during the process. RESULTS: One minute of decontamination was efficient for all three methods tested. Chloramine-T increased the surface porosity on resin composites, no changes were observed for UV light and 70% ethanol, however, 1 H-NMR identified leached monomers only when 70% ethanol was used. No chemical change of the materials was found under ATR/FTIR analyses after the decontamination process. Chloramine-T, with no previous wash, increased the bacterial viability for both resin composites and increased the bacterial metabolism for the resin composite without fluoride. CONCLUSION: UV light had no interference on the resin composites properties tested using 1 min of exposure compared to the other decontamination methods. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 945-953, 2018.

Effect of the photoinitiator system on the properties of a dental material based on a hybrid polymer / Efeito do sistema fotoiniciador sobre as propriedades de um material dentário baseado em um polímero híbrido

Objetivo: Nesse estudo, foram avaliados os efeitos de dois diferentes protocolos de cura sobre as propriedades de um compósito usando um polímero híbrido como resina dentária. Material e Métodos: Dois compósitos diferentes foram preparados, um contendo uma mistura de TEGDMA/Bis-GMA (50:50) e, outro contendo uma mistura de TEGDMA/p-MEMO (50:50), [p-MEMO: precursor oligomérico inorgânico]. Ambos compósitos foram reticulados com lucirin e canforoquinona. Os compósitos foram preparados com 70% em massa de carga inorgânica. Resistência flexural foi avaliada com uma máquina de testes universal e o grau de conversão calculado por espectroscopia na região do infravermelho. Um picnômetro a gás hélio foi usado para obter os dados de contração de polimerização. Testes de sorção foram feitos e microscopia eletrônica de varredura foi usada para avaliar efeitos deletérios sobre as superfícies das resinas. Resultados: A amostra constituída com TEGDMA/p-MEMO reticulada com lucirin (L-T/p) apresentou os melhores valores das propriedades monitoradas. Conclusão: Lucirin é o sistema fotoiniciador mais adequado para compostos dentários contendo polímeros híbridos.

Objective: In this study, the effects of two different cure protocols upon the properties of composites using a hybrid-polymer as dental resin were evaluated. Material and Methods: Two distinct dental composites were prepared, one containing a mixture of TEGDMA/bis-GMA (50:50) and, another containing a mixture of TEGDMA/p MEMO (50:50), [p-MEMO: oligomeric inorganic precursor]. Both composites were polymerized with lucirin and canphorquinone as photoinitiators. The composites were made with a 70 % wt of inorganic filler. Flexural strength was evaluated with a universal test machine and the degree of conversion was measured by infrared spectroscopy. A helium pycnometer was used to obtain polymer shrinkage data. Sorption tests were performed and SEM microscopy was used to show deleterious effects upon the resins’ surfaces. Results: The sample based on TEGDMA/p-MEMO polymerized with lucirin (L-T/p) showed the best values of the monitored properties. Conclusion: Lucirin is the most suitable photoinitiator for dental composites containing hybrid polymers.

Integrando ciência e arte com resinas compostas: reabilitação estética anterior, aspectos químicos e análise em MEV - Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura / Science and art with dental composite: anterior esthetic rehabilitation, chemical aspects and analysis with SEM - Scanning Electron Microscopy

Atualmente, o desenvolvimento observado nas resinas compostas proporciona ao cirurgião-dentista a oportunidade de reproduzir com grande fidelidade os dentes naturais. As propriedades químicas têm melhorado constantemente, proporcionando maior durabilidade, resistência e estética satisfatória. O presente artigo teve como objetivo apresentar passo-a-passo uma reabilitação estética com resinas compostas em dentes anteriores, discutir alguns aspectos gerais sobre suas características químicas, bem como analisar o compósito utilizado através de MEV - microscopia eletrônica de varredura.