Advanced micro- & nanostructuring for enhanced biocompatibility of stainless steel by multi-beam and beamshaping technology.

Biocompatibility is one of the key issues for implants, especially in the case of stainless steel with medium to low biocompatibility, which may lead to a lack of osseointegration and consequently to implant failure or rejection. To precisely control preferential cell growth sites and, consequently, the biocompatibility of prosthetic devices, two types of surfaces were analyzed, containing periodic nanogrooves laser induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) and square-shaped micropillars. For the fast and efficient production of these surfaces, the unique combination of high energy ultrashort pulsed laser system with multi-beam and beamshaping technology was applied, resulting in increased productivity by 526% for micropillars and 14 570% for LIPSS compared to single beam methods.In vitroanalysis revealed that micro and nanostructured surfaces provide a better environment for cell attachment and proliferation compared to untreated ones, showing an increase of up to 496% in the number of cells compared to the reference. Moreover, the combination of LIPSS and micropillars resulted in a precise cell orientation along the periodic microgroove pattern. The combination of these results demonstrates the possibility of mass production of functionalized implants with control over cell organization and growth. Thus, reducing the risk of implant failure due to low biocompatibility.

LIPSS-based functional surfaces produced by multi-beam nanostructuring with 2601 beams and real-time thermal processes measurement.

A unique combination of the ultrashort high-energy pulsed laser system with exceptional beam quality and a novel Diffractive Optical Element (DOE) enables simultaneous production of 2601 spots organized in the square-shaped 1 × 1 mm matrix in less than 0.01 ms. By adjusting the laser and processing parameters each spot can contain Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS, ripples), including high-spatial frequency LIPSS (HFSL) and low-spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL). DOE placed before galvanometric scanner allows easy integration and stitching of the pattern over larger areas. In addition, the LIPSS formation was monitored for the first time using fast infrared radiometry for verification of real-time quality control possibilities. During the LIPSS fabrication, solidification plateaus were observed after each laser pulse, which enables process control by monitoring heat accumulation or plateau length using a new signal derivation approach. Analysis of solidification plateaus after each laser pulse enabled dynamic calibration of the measurement. Heat accumulation temperatures from 200 to 1000 °C were observed from measurement and compared to the theoretical model. The temperature measurements revealed interesting changes in the physics of the laser ablation process. Moreover, the highest throughput on the area of 40 × 40 mm reached 1910 cm2/min, which is the highest demonstrated throughput of LIPSS nanostructuring, to the best of our knowledge. Thus, showing great potential for the efficient production of LIPSS-based functional surfaces which can be used to improve surface mechanical, biological or optical properties.

Cryogenically-cooled Yb:YGAG ceramic mode-locked laser.

This work reports on a liquid-nitrogen-cooled, SESAM mode-locked Yb:YGAG (Yb:Y(3)Ga(2)Al(3)O(12)) ceramic laser. The Yb:YGAG has a similar structure to Yb:YAG, but its emission spectrum at low temperature remains much broader, which is suitable for ultrashort pulse generation and amplification. A stable pulse train with 119-MHz repetition rate was obtained at a wavelength of 1026 nm. The measured pulse duration is 2.4 ps, which is more than four times shorter than that achieved with a cryogenically-cooled Yb:YAG. Furthermore, laser performance of the Yb:YGAG ceramics in continuous-wave operation and wavelength tunability at 80 K was investigated.

Determination of fatty acids as phenacyl esters in rat adipose tissue and blood vessel walls by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Twenty-two biologically relevant (6:0-22:6) saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography after derivatization with phenacyl bromide. An optimal resolution of the critical combinations linolenic-myristic, docosahexaenoic-palmitoleic-arachidonic and palmitic-oleic acids and cis and trans isomers of octadecenoic (n9) and octadecadienoic (n9, 12) acids was achieved by continuous gradient elution with methanol-acetonitrile-water. Elution of mixtures of 6:0-22:1 fatty acids was completed within 80 min at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min. By the use of UV detection at 242 nm the detection limits for short- and long-chain fatty acids were found to be about 0.8 and 12 ng per injection, respectively. Linearity was tested up to 100 ng. The method was applied to the determination of fatty acids in rat adipose tissue and blood vessel walls of animals fed hydrogenated fat diets. The results are comparable to those obtained by gas chromatography and surpass the latter for the resolution of oleic and elaidic acids.

Column liquid chromatography of methotrexate and its metabolites using a post-column photochemical reactor and fluorescence detection.

On irradiation with short-wavelength UV light in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, methotrexate and its metabolites 7-hydroxymethotrexate and 2,4-diamino-N10-methylpteroic acid are cleaved into highly fluorescent products. This reaction can be used for the sensitive and selective detection of the compounds in biological fluids, following reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation. Study of the effect of the mobile phase composition and irradiation time on fluorescence signal intensity showed that a residence time of ca. 3 s in the on-line photochemical reactor was best. The detection limit for methotrexate was 0.4 ng, for 7-hydroxymethotrexate 1.0 ng and for 2,4-diamino-N10-methylpteroic acid 0.6 ng. The addition of dimethylformamide to the mobile phase enhanced the selectivity of separation.

Ion-exchange derivatives of Spheron. V. Sulphate and sulpho derivatives.

Using various reactions, strongly acidic derivatives of Spheron of the sulphate and sulpho types were prepared with nominal capacities between 0.37 and 2.0 mequiv./g. They were characterized by their capacities for small ions, by their static and dynamic capacities for proteins, by elemental analysis, by their working volumes and specific internal surface areas. The differences between the nominal capacities calculated theoretically from the sulphur contents and the measured values are discussed, as are the relationships between the nominal capacities for small ions and the static and dynamic capacities for proteins. The chromatographic properties of the cation exchangers are illustrated by the separation of an artificial mixture of proteins (serum albumin, chymotrypsinogen and lysozyme) at various pH values, and of a natural mixture of egg-white proteins. The separation of active enzymes is also reported. Sulphobutyl-Spheron was tested also as a catalyst for the esterification of alcohols.

Two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography of Dns-amino acids on reversed-phase silica gel.

Ready-for-use reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatographic plates were used for the separation of Dns-amino acids. The development was performed by using methanol-2% acetic acid (75.25) or methanol-0.01 M Na2HPO4 (75:25). Reversed-phase plates were used also for adsorption chromatography using a non-aqueous solvent system such as benzene-chloroform-acetic acid (50:48:2) or n-heptane-ethyl acetate-acetic acid (65:33:2). Good separations were achieved by using both principles in the two-dimensional arrangement.

Liquid chromatography of nucleic acid components and their analogues on hydroxyethyl methacrylate gels.

Spheron hydroxyethyl methacrylate gels are advantageous sorbents for the high-performance liquid chromatography of various nucleic acid components and their analogues. In aqueous media these compounds are reversible sorbed on the surface of the gel. Differences in the sorption characteristics of particular derivatives enable good separations of even relatively complicated mixtures to be achieved.