Biomedical subjects

Jonathan C Knowles

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathan C Knowles.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Development of hydroxyapatite bone scaffold for controlled drug release via poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and hydroxyapatite hybrid coatings.

A scaffold-coating design, the hydroxyapatite (HA) porous bone scaffold coated with poly(epsilon-)caprolactone (PCL) and HA powder hybrids, was developed for use as tissue-regeneration and controlled-release system. An antibiotic drug, tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), was encapsulated within the hybrid coating layer through a dip-coating and solvent-casting method. Coating cycle and drug loading amount differed to control the level of drug-release rate. The HA scaffold framework, obtained by a polymeric foam reticulate method, exhibited a highly porous structure, with porosity and pore size of approximately 87% and 180 microm, respectively. The hybrid layer, consisting of PCL sheet and HA fine powders, was uniformly coated on the scaffold surface. The coating layer exhibited only PCL and HA phases and structures, revealing no chemical interaction among the coating components, as observed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analyses. The coated-HA scaffolds showed an effective stress distribution behavior in response to an applied load, as confirmed by the compressive stress-strain curve. The mechanical properties of the coated scaffolds were improved highly with coatings; the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the cyclic coated scaffolds were approximately 3-4 times, and the energy absorption were approximately 8 times, higher than those without coating. These improvements were attributed mainly to the shielding of framework flaws by a flexible coating layer and partially to the thicker stems (porosity reduction). The dissolution of the coated scaffolds in a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution increased with incubation time. The drug was released sharply within the initial several hours ( approximately 2 h), but the rate decreased further, showing a sustained release. The release amount was well controlled via coating-cycle and initial drug loading amount, suggesting the effectiveness of the coating-scaffold design as a drug-delivery system.

Bone and Bones↗

PubMed2004

Dissolution control and cellular responses of calcium phosphate coatings on zirconia porous scaffold.

Different types of calcium phosphates [hydroxyapatite (HA), fluorapatite (FA), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and their composites (HA + FA, HA + TCP)] were coated on a zirconia (ZrO(2)) porous scaffold using a powder slurry method. The ZrO(2) porous scaffold was intended for a load-bearing implant, and the apatite layers were coated to improve osteoconductivity. The insertion of an FA intermediate layer between the coating layer and ZrO(2) scaffold effectively suppressed the reaction between the calcium phosphate and ZrO(2) and maintained the coating layer at the initial powder composition. The obtained coating layer, of a thickness of approximately 30 microm, was relatively microporous and firmly adherent to the ZrO(2) scaffold. Dissolution tests in physiological solution showed typical differences depending on the coating layers, with the dissolution rate increasing in the order TCP > HA + TCP > HA > HA + FA > FA. This result suggests the functional coating of the calcium phosphates in view of tailoring the solubility. Osteoblast-like cells, MG63 and HOS, responded similarly in terms of cell growth, morphology, and proliferation rate regardless of the coating types, indicating favorable and comparable cell viability. However, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of the cells on the pure HA and HA composite coatings (HA + FA and HA + TCP) expressed at higher levels compared to those on pure FA and pure TCP coatings for both MG63 and HOS cells, suggesting a selective cell activity depending on the coating types. All the calcium phosphate-coated-ZrO(2) scaffolds showed higher ALP levels compared to pure ZrO(2) scaffold.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2004

Soluble phosphate glasses: in vitro studies using human cells of hard and soft tissue origin.

This report describes the short-term response of two typical cellular components of a hard/soft tissue interface such as the periodontal ligament/mandible and patellar tendon/tibia. Tissue engineering of such interfaces requires a contiguous scaffold system with at least two cell types associated with it. Human oral osteoblasts, oral fibroblasts and hand flexor tendon fibroblasts were seeded on phosphate-based glasses of different dissolution rates. Quantitative and morphological assessment of cell adhesion and proliferation for all cell types was assessed, after first elucidating an experimental composition range using MG63 cells. In addition, immunolabelling of bone-specific non-collagenous proteins bone sialoprotein, osteonectin and osteopontin was performed to determine osteoblast phenotype. Fibroblast phenotype was established by immunolabelling for prolyl-4-hydroxylase, an enzyme vital for collagen biosynthesis. Results indicated that both cell types maintained their respective phenotypes over time in culture on glass discs of generic composition (CaO)x-(Na2O)(0.5-x)-(P2O5)0.5, remained attached and proliferated dependent on glass composition and cell type. Glasses containing at least 46 mol% CaO, produced no adverse cell reaction suggesting that these compositions that support both osteoblasts and fibroblasts would be ideal as a scaffold material for engineering the hard/soft tissue interface.

Biocompatible Materials↗

PubMed2004

Fluor-hydroxyapatite sol-gel coating on titanium substrate for hard tissue implants.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) and fluor-hydroxyapatite (FHA) films were deposited on a titanium substrate using a sol-gel technique. Different concentrations of F- were incorporated into the apatite structure during the sol preparation. Typical apatite structures were obtained for all coatings after dipping and subsequent heat treatment at 500 degrees C. The films obtained were uniform and dense, with a thickness of approximately 5 microm. The dissolution rate of the coating layer decreased with increasing F- incorporation within the apatite structure, which demonstrates the possibility of tailoring the solubility by a functional gradient coating of HA and FHA. The cell proliferation rate on the coating layer decreased slightly with increasing F- incorporation. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of the cells on all the HA and FHA coated samples showed much higher expression levels compared to pure Ti. This confirmed the improved activity of cell functions on the substrates with the sol-gel coating treatment.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2004

Calcium phosphates and glass composite coatings on zirconia for enhanced biocompatibility.

Calcium phosphates (CaP) and phosphate-based glass (P-glass, xCaO-(0.55-x) Na(2)O-0.45P(2)O(5) composition) composite coatings were obtained on a strong ZrO(2) to improve biocompatibility, the mechanical strength and biological activity. Hydroxyapatite (HA) and P-glass mixed powder slurries were coated on the ZrO(2) substrate, and subsequently heat-treated to obtain CaP- and P-glass composite coatings. The effects of glass composition (x=0.3, 0.4, 0.5 mol), mixing ratio of glass to HA (30%, 40%, 50% wt/wt), and heat treatment temperature (800 degrees C, 900 degrees C, 1000 degrees C) on the coating properties were investigated. After heat treatment, additional calcium phosphates, i.e., dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP), were crystallized, resulting in the formation of triphasic calcium phosphates (HA-TCP-DCP) surrounded by a glass phase. The relative amounts of the crystalline phases varied with coating variables. The higher heat treatment temperature and glass amount, and the lower CaO content in the glass composition rendered the composite coatings to retain the higher amounts of TCP and DCP while the initial HA decreased. These appearance of additional crystalline phases and reduction of HA amount were attributed to the combined effects, i.e., the melting-crystallization of P-glass and the reaction between glass liquid phase and HA powder during thermal treatment. As a result of the glass phase in the composite coatings, their microstructures became much denser when compared to the pure HA coating. In particular, a completely dense structure was obtained at coating conditions with large amount of glass addition (50 wt%) at the glass composition of lower CaO content (0.3 mol CaO), and the following heat treatment above 800 degrees C for 2h. As a result, the adhesion strengths of the composite coating layers were significantly improved when compared to the pure HA coating. The highest strength of the composite coating was approximately 40 MPa, an improvement of approximately 80% with respect to the pure HA coating. The composite coatings showed much higher dissolution rates than the pure HA coating due to the newly formed crystallines (TCP and DCP) and the remaining glass phase. The osteoblast-like cells grew and spread actively on the composite coating samples. The proliferation numbers and alkaline phosphate (ALP) activities of the cells on the composite coatings were improved by approximately 30-40% when compared to Thermanox control and ZrO(2) substrate, and were comparable to the pure HA coating. These findings suggested that the CaP and P-glass composites are potentially useful for hard tissue coating system, due to their morphological and mechanical integrity, enhanced bioactivity, and favorable responses to the osteoblast-like cells.

Adhesiveness↗

PubMed2002

The effect of sodium hypochlorite irrigant concentration on tooth surface strain.

The effect of root-canal irrigation with different concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (3%, 5.1%, 7.3% NaOCI) on the mechanical properties of teeth was investigated in vitro. Root canals of 13 extracted, human premolars, denuded of enamel, were prepared with nickel-titanium rotary instruments (Quantec) to a standard size by using saline irrigation. An electrical strain gauge was bonded to the cervical aspect of each tooth. The 10 experimental teeth were subjected to 5 successive, 30-minute periods of irrigation. The irrigants were used in the following order: (a) saline; (b) 3.0% NaOCI; (c) 5.1% NaOCI; (d) 7.3% NaOCI; (e) saline. Three control teeth were irrigated with saline only for all five periods. After each irrigation, the teeth were cyclically loaded to 110N while the surface strain was measured. Changes in strain of the test teeth after each irrigation regimen followed broadly similar patterns that were different from the control teeth. There was no difference, however, in the strain recorded after irrigation by the different irrigants within the experimental group.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hydroxyapatite/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) composite coatings on hydroxyapatite porous bone scaffold for drug delivery.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) porous scaffold was coated with HA and polycaprolactone (PCL) composites, and antibiotic drug tetracycline hydrochloride was entrapped within the coating layer. The HA scaffold obtained by a polymeric reticulate method, possessed high porosity ( approximately 87%) and controlled pore size (150-200 microm). Such a well-developed porous structure facilitated usage in a drug delivery system due to its high surface area and blood circulation efficiency. The PCL polymer, as a coating component, was used to improve the brittleness and low strength of the HA scaffold, as well to effectively entrap the drug. To improve the osteoconductivity and bioactivity of the coating layer, HA powder was hybridized with PCL solution to make the HA-PCL composite coating. With alteration in the coating concentration and HA/PCL ratio, the morphology, mechanical properties, and biodegradation behavior were investigated. Increasing the concentration rendered the stems thicker and some pores to be clogged; as well increasing the HA/PCL ratio made the coating surface be rough due to the large amount of HA particles. However, for all concentrations and compositions, uniform coatings were formed, i.e., with the HA particles being dispersed homogeneously in the PCL sheet. With the composite coating, the mechanical properties, such as compressive strength and elastic modulus were improved by several orders of magnitude. These improvements were more significant with thicker coatings, while little difference was observed with the HA/PCL ratio. The in vitro biodegradation of the composite coatings in the phosphate buffered saline solution increased linearly with incubation time and the rate differed with the coating concentration and the HA/PCL ratio; the higher concentration and HA amount caused the increased biodegradation. At short period (<2 h), about 20-30% drug was released especially due to free drug at the coating surface. However, the release rate was sustained for prolonged periods and was highly dependent on the degree of coating dissolution, suggesting the possibility of a controlled drug release in the porous scaffold with HA+PCL coating.

Absorbable Implants↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of surface conditions and silane agent on the bond of resin to IPS Empress 2 ceramic.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different ceramic surface treatments on the tensile bond strength between IPS Empress 2 ceramic framework and Rely X adhesive resin cement, with or without the application of a silane coupling agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty disks were made, embedded in resin, and randomly divided into six groups: group 1 = sandblasting (100 microm), no silanation; group 2 = sandblasting (100 microm), silane treatment; group 3 = sandblasting (50 microm), no silanation; group 4 = sandblasting (50 microm), silane treatment; group 5 = hydrofluoric acid etching, no silanation; and group 6 = hydrofluoric acid etching, silane treatment. The disks were bonded into pairs with adhesive resin cement. All samples were stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours and then thermocycled. The samples were submitted to tensile testing. RESULTS: The use of silane improved the bond strength in relation to the groups in which silane was not applied (P < .05). The most effective surface treatment was etching with 10% hydrofluoric acid, both with (25.6 MPa) and without silane application (16.4 MPa); these values showed a statistically significant difference compared to sandblasting with 50- and 100-microm Al2O3. Sandblasting with 50-microm Al2O3, with (11.8 MPa) and without silane (5.4 MPa), demonstrated significantly higher tensile bond strength than sandblasting with 100-microm Al2O3, with (8.3 MPa) and without silane (3.8 MPa). CONCLUSION: Combined application of 10% hydrofluoric acid and silane enhanced the bond strength between the IPS Empress 2 ceramic framework and resin agent.

Acid Etching, Dental↗