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Scanning electron microscopy of hen granulosa cells before and after ovulation.

Using scanning electron microscopy, I examined the granulosa cells of the hen (Gallus domesticus) before and after ovulation. Although the granulosa cells were separated during the final 7-8 days of oocyte maturation, they maintained cell-to-cell contact via cytoplasmic processes. The granulosa cells were cuboidal except at the animal pole (the site of the germinal vesicle) where they were columnar and had surface folds. These morphological characteristics were retained until germinal vesicle breakdown, 1-2 hr before ovulation. At that time the surface of granulosa cells at the animal pole was smoother and their cytoplasmic processes were less numerous and appeared atrophic. Similar changes occurred on the granulosa cells overlying the vegetal pole. About 30 min after ovulation, the granulosa, which remained adherent to its basal lamina, consisted of irregularly shaped columnar cells that lacked surface modifications. These smooth surface cells had rounded apical faces and were generally wider at the apical half. Postovulatory granulosa cells do not transform into luteal cells but undergo fatty degeneration and desquamation during the 4 days after ovulation.

Animals↗

Acid/Base-treated activated carbons: characterization of functional groups and metal adsorptive properties.

Surface modification of activated carbons by various physicochemical methods directs an attractive approach for improvement of heavy metal uptake from aqueous solutions. Activated carbons were modified with HCl and HNO3 optionally followed by NaOH. The effects of surface modifications on the properties of the carbons were studied by the specific surface area, carbon pH, and total acidity capacity as well as by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The modifications bring about substantial variation in the chemical properties whereas the physical properties remain nearly unchanged. NaOH causes an increase in the content of hydroxyl groups, while the HCl treatment results in an increase in the amount of single-bonded oxygen functional groups such as phenols, ethers, and lactones. The HNO3 modification generates a large number of surface functional groups such as carbonyl, carboxyl, and nitrate groups. The HNO3 modification significantly increases the copper adsorption, while the HCl treatment slightly reduces the copper uptake. Most of the copper ions are adsorbed rapidly in the first 2 h; the adsorption equilibrium is established in around 8 h. An intraparticle diffusion model successfully describes the kinetics of copper adsorption onto the carbons.

Journal Article↗

Comparison of the postoperative inflammatory response in the normal eye with heparin-surface-modified and poly(methyl methacrylate) intraocular lenses.

Evidence that poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is not inert in the eye has led to the introduction of intraocular lens (IOL) surface modification. In this prospective, double-blind, randomized study, we evaluated the effects of heparin surface modification (HSM) on anterior segment inflammation for one year after endocapsular cataract surgery. Fifty-four eyes were randomized to receive an HSM IOL (29 eyes) or a PMMA IOL (25 eyes) and were assessed postoperatively by corneal endothelial photography, laser flare and cell measurements, fluorophotometry, and IOL surface specular microscopy. Corneal endothelial loss, mean aqueous flare and cells, and fluorophotometry did not differ significantly between the groups, although fewer eyes in the HSM group had high flare values on the first postoperative day. The number of giant cells was significantly less in the HSM group for up to one year after surgery. Although there was no statistical difference in overall visual outcome, more patients in the HSM group (17%, 5/29) achieved a postoperative visual acuity of 20/15 than in the PMMA group (0). These results demonstrate that HSM enhances IOL biocompatibility and these effects are detectable in the low-risk, normal eye.

Aged↗

Surface-layer modification of hydroxyapatite ceramic with acid and heat treatments.

The purpose of this study was to examine or characterize the surface layer of a calcium phosphate ceramic with a gradual compositional change from alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) on the surface to hydroxyapatite (HAP) on the inside. The surface of a dense HAP ceramic was acid-treated for 1 hour with orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) solutions of several concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 mol/L) or a buffered solution (pH 4.0) consisting of phosphate solutions. After acid treatment, specimens were heat-treated at 1,250 degrees C for 1 hour. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the compositional gradient layer could be modified on the surface of the HAP ceramic with all acid and heat treatments, and that 5.0 mol/L H3PO4 solution and heat treatments had a maximal thickness of approximately 2 microm for the surface-modified layer. It was confirmed that the outermost layer of HAP ceramics modified with the treatments, except 5.0 mol/L H3PO4 solution, showed a compound such alpha-TCP.

Acids↗

Morphology and adhesion of biomolecules on silicon based surfaces.

Biomolecules such as proteins, on silicon based surfaces are of extreme importance in various applications including microfabricated silicon implants, in the fabrication of microdevices with protein compounds (e.g., biosensors), and therapeutics. Morphology of silicon based surfaces with and without biomolecules and their adhesion with the substrate govern performance and reliability of the biological application. In this research, step by step morphological changes of silicon as well as adhesion during its surface modification have been studied using atomic force microscopy. To improve adhesion between biomolecules and the silicon based surfaces, chemical conjugation as well as surface patterning have been used. Changes in adhesion as a result of surface modification have been analyzed with the help of contact angle measurements. Phase imaging technique was used to confirm the presence of biomolecules on the surface. To understand the relationship between morphology and local values of adhesion, adhesion mapping and local stiffness mapping were carried out.

Cells, Cultured↗

Primary study on the assay of superficial hydroxyl group content upon the solid polyvinyl alcohol.

Polyvinyl alcohol is a multipurpose polymer, and there is abundant hydroxyl group on its surface. In this article, we first time attempted to assay the superficial hydroxyl group content on the solid polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-1799) with a degree of polymerization over 1700 and a degree of alcoholysis over 99.0%. The assay was carried out by two different titration systems. The results show: (1) the order of magnitude of superficial hydroxyl group content on its solid surface was about 3.8E-5 mol/cm2 by acylation system with single functional group reagent (acetic anhydride); while (2) the order of magnitude of superficial hydroxyl group content was about 1.4E-7 mol/cm2 by esterification system with bi-functional group reagent (Toluence 2,4-DiIsocyanate, TDI). The results would be useful to provide a quantitative reference when -OH on the solid PVA surface is intended to be utilized for surface modification for some application. Moreover, the results and their difference also offer us the knowledge of the surface modification efficiency.

Acylation↗

Characterization of chemical modifications of surface properties of low density lipoproteins.

Low density lipoproteins (LDL) were modified by incubation with formaldehyde and malondialdehyde and by autoxidation. Different methods were developed to measure alterations of surface properties of LDL. A method based on fluorescamine fluorescence was used to measure changes of free amino groups. All modified LDL samples have a decreased number of amino groups. As shown by gel electrophoresis, the negative surface charge of LDL increases. Aggregation of LDL induced by poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is influenced by LDL modification. The PEG 6000 concentration necessary for LDL aggregation is shifted to higher values for modified LDL due to the increased negative surface charge. This result may be of interest for the application of PEG for selective separation of different classes of lipoproteins. The formation of aggregates of LDL induced by dextran sulphate is reduced due to the loss of positive charges of amino groups on the LDL surface.

Dextran Sulfate↗

Modification and characterization of artificially patterned enzymatically active surfaces by scanning electrochemical microscopy.

This review summarizes the characterization of localized enzymatic activity by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). After introducing the concepts of feedback imaging and generator-collector experiments with enzyme-modified solid surfaces, a comparison of the merits and limitations of both approaches is given and further illustrated by selected applications. They include enzyme-modified patterned monolayers, enzyme-modified polymer microstructures and enzyme-modified metal microstructures. Such configurations are important for the development of miniaturized bioanalytical systems with proteins, such as miniaturized enzyme electrode arrays. SECM has emerged as an ideal tool for prototyping of such systems. It also offers several mechanisms for local surface modifications under conditions compatible with conservation of protein functionality of enzymes and antibodies. The subsequent imaging of the immobilized activity provides direct information about local immobilized enzyme activity. The range of biotechnological applications can be expanded by labeling other biomolecules, such as monoclonal antibodies, with appropriate enzymes. Miniaturized electrochemical enzyme immunoassays that apply the sandwich format and SECM as the detection method are reviewed. They have been performed on microstructured supports after reagent spotting or on agglomerates of surface-modified magnetic microbeads. Finally, current challenges are listed with indications of ongoing research to overcome current limitations by means of instrumental improvements.

Electrochemistry↗

Preservation of NADH voltammetry for enzyme-modified electrodes based on dehydrogenase.

Minimizing overpotential and generating high faradaic currents are critical issues for fast-scan voltammetry of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) for the sensitivity of enzyme-modified electrodes based on dehydrogenases. Although NADH voltammetry exhibits high overpotential and poor voltammetric peak shape at solid electrode surfaces, modification of the electrode surface can improve the electrochemical response at carbon fibers. However, these improvements are severely degraded upon the covalent attachment of enzyme. The creation of improved electron-transfer properties and the retention of these properties throughout the enzyme attachment process is the focus of this study. A novel polishing and electrochemical pretreatment method was developed which generated a decreased overpotential and a high faradaic current at carbon-fiber electrodes for NADH. Factors that lead to a degradation of voltammetric response during the enzyme fabrication were investigated, and both the aging and the covalent modification of the pretreated surface contributed to this degradation. Attachment processes that minimized the preparation time, in turn, maximized the retention of the facile electron-transfer properties. These attachment processes included varying the surface attachment reactions for the enzyme. Preparation time reduction techniques included modeling existing techniques and then improving kinetic and mass transport issues where possible. Alternate covalent attachment methods included a direct electrochemical amine reaction and an electrochemically reductive hydrazide reaction. The surface attachment and retention of electron-transfer properties of these probes were confirmed by fluorescence and electrochemical studies.

Avidin↗

Aminated polyacrylonitrile fibers for humic acid adsorption: behaviors and mechanisms.

Aminated polyacrylonitrile fibers (APANFs) were prepared by surface modification of polyacrylonitrile fibers (PANFs) with diethylenetriamine in a solution, and the APANFs were studied as an adsorbent for humic acid removal in a series of batch adsorption experiments. The surface modification reaction introduced the amine groups on the surface of the fibers, and the APANFs had a zero point of zeta potentials at pH 8.1, in contrast with pH 3.5 for the PANFs. Adsorption experiments indicated that the APANFs were very effective in removing humic acid from aqueous solutions in the pH range of 2-10, whereas the PANFs did not adsorb humic acid at all under the same conditions. It was found that both electrostatic interaction and surface complexation mechanisms played important roles in humic acid adsorption on the APANFs, although the relative importance of each of the adsorption mechanisms varied with solution pH values. With the advantages of large specific surface areas and enhanced reactive surface properties, the APANFs have great potentials in water treatment for the removal of humic substances and other polarized or electrically charged species.

Acrylic Resins↗

Electrochemical characterization for ion-implanted materials surfaces.

Studies on the surface modification of materials by ion implantation have been carried out during the past 25 years in RIKEN. In this paper, results of electrochemical studies on the ion-implanted materials are described to realize the unique substances formed by the ion implantation. The ion implantation is used for compositional and structural surface modification of iron and carbon substrates. Voltammetric behavior of ion-implanted iron electrodes characterized effects of the ion implantation on anodic dissolution and passivation properties of the modified surfaces. Typical electrode reaction properties of ion-implanted carbon electrodes clearly were related to the effects of structural modification of the carbon surfaces.

Journal Article↗

Osteoblast proliferation and differentiation on dentin slices are modulated by pretreatment of the surface with tetracycline or osteoclasts.

BACKGROUND: Implant surface roughness and chemical composition, as well as other factors, affect the ability of osteogenic cells to form bone adjacent to an implant. The same principles may also apply to the tooth root and some reports have shown that surface modification of the root may lead to improved restoration of the periodontal apparatus. The most common of these surface modification techniques involves demineralization with citric acid or treatment with tetracycline to expose collagen fibrils. In addition, during normal bone remodeling, osteoclasts demineralize the extracellular matrix, leaving resorption pits and exposed collagen fibrils. In this study, the effect of different dentin surface-preparation techniques on osteoblasts were compared. METHODS: Slices of sperm whale dentin were mechanically polished and surfaces were treated with tetracycline-HCl (TCN) or were cultured with mouse bone marrow cells to create a surface with osteoclast (OC) resorption pits or left untreated. Profilometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate the 3 different dentin surfaces. MG63 osteoblast-like cells were cultured on the 3 different surfaces and the effect of dentin surface preparation technique on MG63 cell proliferation (cell number), differentiaton (alkaline phosphatase specific activity of isolated cells and cell layer lysates; osteocalcin production), and local factor production (transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) compared. RESULTS: Profilometry showed the polished and TCN surfaces were smooth with comparable Ra values, whereas the OC surfaces were slightly rougher due to resorption pits which covered 3.7% of the surface. XPS measurements showed that TCN treatment reduced the Ca and P content of the surface, indicating that it had dissolved the mineral. Osteoclast-resorption also reduced the Ca and P content, but to a lesser extent. MG63 cell proliferation on polished dentin and tissue culture polystyrene was equivalent. In contrast, cells grown on the TCN- and OC-treated surfaces exhibited increased proliferation. No effect of surface treatment on cell alkaline phosphatase activity was observed, but activity in the cell layer lysates was increased on the TCN- and OC-treated surfaces. Osteocalcin production was reduced on all dentin surfaces, but the greatest reduction was found on the TCN-treated surface. Production of both TGF-beta1 and PGE2 was increased on the treated surfaces. All effects were greatest in cultures grown on the TCN-treated dentin. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that demineralization of the dentin surface promotes proliferation of osteoblasts and early differentiation events like production of alkaline phosphatase and autocrine mediators such as PGE2 and TGF-beta1. However, later differentiation events like osteocalcin production are decreased. Osteoclast-mediated bone resorption elicits similar responses; less than 4% of the dentin surface resulted in approximately 75% of the response caused by TCN treatment. These observations suggest that greater attention should be paid to the effects of osteoclastic resorption in designing methods for enhancing bone and cementum formation adjacent to root surfaces.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Surface cap modifications in cold-treated Drosophila melanogaster embryos.

When early Drosophila embryos were allowed to develop at 0 degree C, several abnormalities in the surface cap organization were observed. Scanning electron microscopy showed that exposure to cold mainly lead to the deformation of the cortical caps and to their partial fusion with adjacent caps. The process of cellularization was presumably affected and large uncellularized areas were observed. Rhodamine-phalloidin staining showed that cap deformation was closely related to the altered microfilament distribution, which was presumably responsible for the failure of large syncytial areas to cellularize. During the process of cellularization, F-actin localization did not depend on the microtubules forming the baskets around the elongating nuclei, but was related to the subpopulation of microtubules radiating from the centrosomes toward the plasma membrane. Only these microtubules seemed to be affected by cold treatment.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

[Long-term stability of heparin-coated PMMA intraocular lenses. Results of an in vitro study].

UNLABELLED: The surface modification of PMMA-intraocular lenses (IOLs) demonstrated a blood-aqueous-barrier protective effect and reduced the incidence of IOL depositions and postoperative fibrin exudation, especially in risk patients (e.g. pediatric cataract, diabetes mellitus, recurrent uveitis). The long-term stability of the surface modification via phenylimines, which permit a covalent surface linkage of heparin to synthetic polymeric materials by reductive amination, is still unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four heparin surface-modified (HSM) monofocal and two unmodified monofocal sterile PMMA-IOLs were stored in an aqueous-serum mixture at 37 degrees C over a period of 4 years and 1 months with daily rotation. After 4 years the concentration of surface-bound heparin on two HSM-IOLs of this mixture and two brand-new HSM-IOLs were determined using an orcin-assay after initial heparinase treatment. Four years after incubation, the modified toluidine blue staining method was used to examine the surface-bound heparin on synthetic polymers. This staining technique with toluidine blue, a non-protein basic substance, enables examination and analysis of the homogeneity of the mono-molecular heparin layer even under critical conditions because of its homogeneous staining. Light and scanning electron microscopic examination of the IOL surfaces were subsequently performed. RESULTS: The concentration of heparin (microgram/cm2) on the IOL surface after 4 years of incubation and treatment with heparinase was valued at 0.51 +/- 0.05 and 0.53 +/- 0.04 in the two brand-new HSM-IOLs. A slightly coarsegrained complex agglutination on the IOL surface was detected by the toluidine blue staining method. Light and spectral microscopy of the surface of the stained IOLs as well as scanning electron microscopy of all HSM-IOLs showed a homogeneous heparin structure and coating after 4 years of in vitro storage. No signs of desorption or reduced reactivity of the heparin were observed in comparison with new HSM-IOLs. The unmodified PMMA-IOLs did not stain, as expected. CONCLUSION: The heparin-modified surface of the examined PMMA-IOLs was intact even after 4 years of storage in an aqueous serum solution. A long-term benefit, in addition to the advantages of the hydrophilisation in the immediate postoperative period, especially for risk patients, is therefore suggested.

Drug Stability↗

Continuous wear contact lens surface chemistry and wearability.

Continuous wear (CW) contact lenses are defined as lenses composed of hydrogel polymers containing elements other than carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen that enhance oxygen permeability to an extent greater than water alone. Those elements are silicon and fluorine. Silicon is incorporated as siloxanes, and fluorine is used as fluoroalkyl. Despite the water present in CW lenses, they are not wearable without surface modification because of the tendency of siloxanes and fluoroakyls to move in the soft polymers, orient, and become enriched at the surface. Various methods of surface modification are discussed, with emphasis on the plasma technologies used by the two commercial CW lens products, Focus Night & Day and PureVision. Speculation about future directions in surface chemistry are also presented.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Monolayer behavior of silica particles at air/water interface: a comparison between chemical and physical modifications of surface.

Silica particles are hydrophobized either by chemical graft of alkyl chains or by physical adsorption of cationic surfactants, alkyltrimethylammonium bromide. The effects of the two modification methods on the monolayer behavior of silica particles at the air/water interface are studied, as well as the packing structure of the particulate films. The results show that the hydrophobicity of particles chemically modified by octanol (SiO2-C8) and dodecanol (SiO2-C12) are similar and higher than that modified by butanol (SiO2-C4). The monolayer composed of particles with higher hydrophobicity shows a large lift-off area, higher compressibility, and significant hysteresis due to the higher particle-particle interaction. As a result, the particulate films exhibit 2-dimensional (2D) aggregative domains of closely-packed structure, but with particle free regions presenting among the domains. The monolayer prepared by SiO2-C4 shows a contrary behavior resulted from the higher particle-water interaction. The particles modified by adsorption of cationic surfactants have an amphiphilic property at the air/water interface. Such monolayer exhibits lower compressibility and hysteresis, higher re-spreading characteristic, and a lower collapse pressure compared with those of the chemically modified particles. A particulate film with high uniformity and closely-packed structure can be obtained by using the octyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTAB) modified particles. When the alkyl chain of surfactant increases, the packing of the particles becomes looser. Such phenomenon is probably caused from the higher probability for the long-chain surfactants to stay at the air/water interface which obstructs the intimate contact of particles.

Journal Article↗

Investigation of human hair fibers using lateral force microscopy.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and lateral force microscopy (LFM) were used to investigate the morphologic and surface changes associated with various surface modifications to human hair. These included extraction with a series of solvents, bleaching, and treatment with a cationic copolymer. The study assessed the ability of these techniques to distinguish the changes in surface properties, including morphology and friction coefficient, as manifested in changes brought about by the indicated surface modifications. While topographic morphology can easily be investigated with contact AFM. LFM offers an additional tool for probing the surface distribution of oils and waxes. The removal of surface lipids from the fiber surface was accomplished using soxhlet extraction with t-butanol and n-hexane, while the free internal lipids (within the fiber structure) were removed by extraction with a mixture of chloroform and methanol (70:30, v/v). In addition, the surface of hair was modified with the cationic polymer, co(vinyl pyrrolidone-methacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride [PVP/MAPTAC]), and its distribution on the surface was monitored. Ambient AFM and LFM studies of surface modified and native fibers clearly indicate that when investigated as a function of tip loading force, the different modifications result in changes of the friction coefficient, which increase in this order: native, bleached, solvent extracted, and polymer-treated hair. Friction images show surface variations that are interpreted as areas of varying lipid film coverage. In addition, topographic images of the fibers show the presence of small pores, which become increasingly prevalent upon solvent extraction.

Chloroform↗

[Surface treatment of dental implants with high-energy laser beam] .

In the present study the biological value of the laser prepared titanium implants has been investigated. Screw-type implants with different surface modifications were placed into the femurs of rabbits. Removal torque measurements and histological examinations were prepared. The examinations were divided into two groups. In the first part of the examinations the laser surface treatment was compared to other type of surface modifications. In the examination groups the implants were prepared with the following surfaces: 1. machined, 2. sandblasted, 3. low intensity laser surface, 4. high intensity laser surface, 5. titanium oxide coated surface. In the second part of the examinations laser treatment with different physical variables were observed. It has been concluded, that in both cases the high energy laser treated implants needed higher removal torque and in some cases an osteogenic activity was observed around them in the medullary space as well. The authors think the advantage of laser surface treatment lies in special micromorphology and the increased cleanliness of the surface.

Animals↗