Biomedical subjects

G Vanhaelewyn

Publications and source records attributed to G Vanhaelewyn.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Multi-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance study of irradiated human finger phalanxes.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is often used in dosimetry using biological samples such as teeth and bones. It is generally assumed that the radicals, formed after irradiation, are similar in both tissues as the mineral part of bone and tooth is carbonated hydroxyapatite. However, there is a lack of experimental evidence to support this assumption. The aim of the present study was to contribute to that field by studying powder and block samples of human finger phalanxes that were irradiated and analyzed by multi-frequency EPR. The results obtained from bones are different from the ones obtained in enamel by several respects: the ordering of the apatite crystallites is much smaller in bone, complicating the assignment of the observed CO2- radicals to a specific location, and one type of CO3(3-) radical was only found in enamel. Moreover, a major difference was found in the non-CO2- and non-CO3(3-) signals. The elucidation of the nature of these native signals (in bone and tooth enamel) still represents a big challenge.

Bone and Bones↗

PubMed2004

Effect of different sterilisation methods on the properties of bioadhesive powders and ocular minitablets, and clinical evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of gamma-irradiation and dry heat sterilisation on the properties of a bioadhesive powder mixture containing ciprofloxacin and its corresponding ocular minitablets. The molecular weight characteristics of drum dried waxy maize starch (DDWM), employed as major component of the bioadhesive formulation, the decay kinetics of radicals, the rheological properties of the bioadhesive polymers and the microbial activity of ciprofloxacin were studied. The influence of the different sterilisation methods on the characteristics of the ocular minitablets was investigated by measuring the crushing strength, the friability, and the in vitro release of ciprofloxacin from the minitablets. Finally, the clinical value of the selected sterilised minitablets was evaluated in seven healthy volunteers. Both sterilisation methods similarly affected the properties of the bioadhesive formulation by inducing stable radicals and decreasing the molecular weight of DDWM, although no changes in the microbiological activity of ciprofloxacin were measured. An obvious influence of both sterilisation methods was observed in the in vitro release study. The crushing strength and friability of the minitablets were not significantly influenced by gamma-irradiation. Based on these data, gamma-irradiation was more adequate as sterilisation method for the bioadhesive ocular minitablets than dry heat sterilisation, because it affected the least the physical properties of the minitablets. Therefore, the gamma-sterilised minitablets were selected for an in vivo evaluation in seven volunteers. The concentration of ciprofloxacin in the tear film remained above its MIC value for the most common ocular pathogens for at least 8 h. Consequently, the gamma-irradiated minitablets containing ciprofloxacin can be considered as a promising formulation to treat bacterial keratitis and conjunctivitis.

Adhesives↗

PubMed2002

Some recent multi-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance results on systems relevant for dosimetry and dating.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) applications like e.g. EPR dosimetry and dating, are usually performed at X-band frequencies because of practical reasons (cost, sample size, etc.). However, it is increasingly recognized that the radiation-induced EPR signals are strongly composite, what might affect dose/age estimates. A few recent examples from both the dosimetry and dating field, illustrating the problems, will be presented. The involved spectra are mainly due to carbonate-derived radicals (CO2-, CO3(3-), etc.). Measurements at higher microwave frequencies are often recommended to improve the insight into the spectra and/or the practical signal quantification. Recent results at Q- and W-band frequencies will show that a multi-frequency approach indeed opens many interesting perspectives in this field but also that each frequency may have specific (dis)advantages depending on the EPR probe and application involved. The discussion will concern carbonate-containing apatite single crystals, shells, modern and fossil tooth enamel.

Carbon Isotopes↗

PubMed2001

Multifrequency EPR study of carbonate- and sulfate-derived radicals produced by radiation in shells and corallite.

Shells of two sea mollusks (Venus sp.), pearl oyster (Meleagrina vulgaris) and corallite (white coral) were exposed to ionizing radiation (gamma and X rays) and then examined by EPR spectroscopy in X, Q and W band. The resulting spectra were analyzed and the g values of the EPR lines in the multicomponent spectra were determined. The increased resolution in Q- and W-band spectra allowed us to assign the observed lines to CO(2)(-) ion radicals (isotropic and orthorhombic), SO(2)(-) isotropic, SO(3)(-) (isotropic and axial), and Mn(2+) species. The assignments were confirmed by simulations of the spectra. Practical implications for the use of Q and/or W band in low-dose quantitative EPR measurements for dating and for accidental dose estimation are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

A decomposition study of the EPR spectrum of irradiated sucrose

In general, the EPR spectra of irradiated sugars are very complex because of their multicomponent character. In this study we applied a multivariate statistical method called MLCFA, maximum likelihood common factor analysis, and it predicted at least six components contributing to the total EPR spectrum of irradiated sucrose. Three dominant components have already been isolated in an irradiated sucrose single crystal using electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and ENDOR induced EPR (EI-EPR). Results of EPR simulations based on the ENDOR data are in a reliable agreement with the experimental EPR spectra of irradiated sucrose single crystals.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

EPR spectrum deconvolution and dose assessment of fossil tooth enamel using maximum likelihood common factor analysis.

In order to determine the components which give rise to the EPR spectrum around g = 2 we have applied Maximum Likelihood Common Factor Analysis (MLCFA) on the EPR spectra of enamel sample 1126 which has previously been analysed by continuous wave and pulsed EPR as well as EPR microscopy. MLCFA yielded agreeing results on three sets of X-band spectra and the following components were identified: an orthorhombic component attributed to CO2-, an axial component (CO3(3-)), as well as four isotropic components, three of which could be attributed to SO2-, a tumbling CO2- and a central line of a dimethyl radical. The X-band results were confirmed by analysis of Q-band spectra where three additional isotropic lines were found, however, these three components could not be attributed to known radicals. The orthorhombic component was used to establish dose response curves for the assessment of the past radiation dose, D(E). The results appear to be more reliable than those based on conventional peak-to-peak EPR intensity measurements or simple Gaussian deconvolution methods.

Animals↗