Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) have attracted considerable attention as biomaterials for medical devices. However, the biocompatibility of Ni-Ti SMAs is often unsatisfactory due to their poor surface structure. Here we prepared Rapidly Solidifi ed (RS) Ni-Ti SMA ribbons by melt-spinning and their surface was characterised by Augerelectron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. The biocompatibility of the produced ribbons and their immunomodulatory properties were studied on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs). We showed that melt-spinning of Ni-Ti SMAs can form a thin homogenous oxide layer, which improves their corrosion resistance and subsequent toxicity to MoDCs. Ni-Ti RS ribbons stimulated the maturation of MoDCs, as detected by changes in the cellsć morphology and increased expression of HLA-DR, CD86, CD40 and CD83 molecules. However, Ni-Ti RS ribbons enhanced the tolerogenic properties of immature MoDCs, which produced higher levels of IL-10 and IL-27, driving the differentiation of IL-10- and TGF-â-producing CD4+T cells. On the other hand, in the presence of lipopolysaccharide, an important pro-infl ammatory biomolecule, Ni-Ti RS ribbons enhanced the allostimulatory and Th1 polarising capacity of MoDCs, whereas the production of Th2 and Th17 cytokines was down-regulated. In conclusion, Ni- Ti RS ribbons possess substantial immunomodulatory properties on MoDCs. These fi ndings might be clinically relevant, because implanted Ni-Ti SMA devices can induce both desired and adverse effects on the immune system, depending on the microenvironmental stimuli.
COBISS.SI-ID: 15705366
The aim of this work was to study the cytotoxicity of different fractions of gold nanoparticles prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis from gold scrap. The target cells were rat thymocytes, as a type of nonproliferating cells, and L929 mouse fibroblasts, as a type of continuous proliferating cells. Fractions1 and 2, composed of pure gold nanoparticles, as determined by scanning electron microscopy with a combination of energy dispersive X-ray analysis, were nontoxic for thymocytes, but reduced moderately the proliferative activity of L929 cells. The inhibitory effect of fraction 2, containing particles smaller in size than fraction 1, was stronger. Fraction 3, composed of Au and up to 3% Cu was noncytotoxic for thymocytes, but was cytotoxic for L929 cells. Fraction 4, composed of Au and Ag nanoparticles, and fraction 5, composed of Au together with Cu, Ni, Zn, Fe, and In were cytotoxic for both thymocytes and L929 cells. These results suggest that USP enables the synthesis of pure gold nanoparticles with controlled size, even from gold scrap. However, microstructural analyses and biocompatibility testing are necessary for their proper selection from more cytotoxic gold nanoparticles, contaminated with other elements of gold alloys.
COBISS.SI-ID: 14359830
The internal oxidation (IO) of Ag - VC composites containing 5 vol.% of carbide was examined at three oxidation temperatures (350, 400, 600 °C). Two mechanisms were observed due to the formation of double oxides with relativelylow melting points. At temperatures below the lowest eutectic point in-situ, or diffusion less IO, was observed with the formation and growth of oxide layers surrounding the initial carbide. At temperatures above the eutectic point IO resulted in the formation of liquid oxide pools, which grew in size and developed into a network of oxides within the metal matrix. The kinetics confirmed the presence of two distinct mechanisms
COBISS.SI-ID: 14376214
This work investigates the possibility of using microindentation as a complementary tool for phase identification, especially in heterogeneous microstructures. Five phases present in alloys Al64Cu23Fe13 and Al94Mn2Be2Cu2 were indented in the microindentation region. A load of 20 mN was found to be convenient for testing because it was too low to produce cracks around indents, yet high enough to avoid too large scattering of the results, occurring at smaller loads. It allowed testing of particles as small as 10 ▫$mu$▫m in the lateral direction and 3 ìm in thickness. Some phases can be distinguished from others by specific characteristics of indentation curves. Otherwise, a single quantitative parameter or combinations of several indentation parameters (defined in EN ISO 14577-1) sufficed. The microindentation can considerably help by phase identification; however, a wider application will require a database, providing indentation properties for a particular phase at different loads and taking into account the indentation size effect.
COBISS.SI-ID: 15658006
A multi scale numerical approach for evaluation of crack initiation and propagation in thermally cut structural elements made of martensitic steel is presented. A numerical simulation of micro-crack initiation is based on the Tanaka-Mura micro-crack nucleation model, where individual grains of synthetic microstructure are simulated using the Voronoi tessellation. Three improvements are added to this model (multiple slip bands, micro-crack coalescence and segmented micro-crack generation). Crack propagation is then solved on a macro scale model using linear elastic fracture mechanics approach. Some experimental tests have also been performed to check the accuracy of the numerical model. The results of the proposed computational model show a reasonable correlation with the experimental results.
COBISS.SI-ID: 13864982