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Biomaterials Advances Jul 2024Engineering of scaffolds for bone regeneration is often inspired by the native extracellular matrix mimicking its composite fibrous structure. In the present study, we...
Engineering of scaffolds for bone regeneration is often inspired by the native extracellular matrix mimicking its composite fibrous structure. In the present study, we used low loadings of diatomite earth (DE) biosilica to improve the bone regeneration potential of gelatin electrospun fibrillar microenvironments. We explored the effect of increasing the DE content from 1 % to 3 % and 5 %, respectively, on the physico-chemical properties of the fibrous scaffolds denoted FG_DE1, FG_DE3, FG_DE5, regarding the aqueous media affinity, stability under simulated physiological conditions, morphology characteristics, and local mechanical properties at the surface. The presence of biosilica generated composite structures with lower swelling degrees and higher stiffness when compared to gelatin fibers. Increasing DE content led to higher Young modulus, while the stability of the protein matrix in PBS, at 37 °C, over 21 was significantly decreased by the presence of diatomite loadings. The best preosteoblast response was obtained for FG_DE3, with enhanced mineralization during the osteogenic differentiation when compared to the control sample without diatomite. 5 % DE in FG_DE5 proved to negatively influence cells' metabolic activity and morphology. Hence, the obtained composite microfibrillar scaffolds might find application as osteoblast-responsive materials for bone tissue engineering.
Topics: Gelatin; Osteoblasts; Tissue Scaffolds; Tissue Engineering; Animals; Diatomaceous Earth; Osteogenesis; Cell Differentiation; Mice; Bone Regeneration; Cell Line; Cellular Microenvironment; Microfibrils; Extracellular Matrix
PubMed: 38796956
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.213894 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Jul 2019In this study, Jordanian diatomaceous earth (JDA) and commercial diatomaceous earth (standard diatomaceous earth, SDA) were used for adsorption of samarium (Sm)(III) and... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
In this study, Jordanian diatomaceous earth (JDA) and commercial diatomaceous earth (standard diatomaceous earth, SDA) were used for adsorption of samarium (Sm)(III) and neodymium (Nd)(III) ions from aqueous solutions using batch technique as a function of initial concentration of metal ions, adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, initial pH solution, contact time, and temperature. Both adsorbents were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Maximum metal ion uptake was observed after 100 min of agitation, and the uptake has decreased with increasing temperature and reached a maximum at pH ≈ 5. Different types of adsorption isotherms and kinetic models were used to describe the Nd(III) and Sm(III) ion adsorption. The experimental data fitted within the following isotherms in the order Langmuir > Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) > Freundlich and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model based on their coefficient of determination (R), chi-square (χ), and error function (F) values. Maximum adsorption uptakes, according to the Langmuir model, were obtained as 188.679 mg/g and 185.185 mg/g for Sm(III) and 169.492 mg/g and 149.254 mg/g for Nd(III) by JDA and SDA, respectively. The results of thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of Sm(III) and Nd(III) ions onto JDA and SDA is a feasible, spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy driven. The best recovery for Sm(III) and Nd(III) was obtained when the 0.05 M EDTA + 0.05 M HPO mixture was used as an eluent.
Topics: Adsorption; Diatomaceous Earth; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Neodymium; Samarium; Solutions; Temperature; Thermodynamics; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 31115818
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05294-9 -
The Science of the Total Environment Mar 2021Polymer injection is used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) when an oil field ages and the pressure in the reservoir decreases, or for oil fields with heavy oil. By polymer...
Polymer injection is used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) when an oil field ages and the pressure in the reservoir decreases, or for oil fields with heavy oil. By polymer injection, the viscosity of the water injected for pressure support is increased by mixing with a high concentration of a polymer solution. Polymers used in EOR operations are often high molecular weight polyacrylamides, including anionic polyacrylamide (APAM), which may subsequently enter the marine environment with produced water releases. Since seawater (SW) contains mineral particles (MPs) in low concentrations, and polymers like APAM are known to flocculate MPs, we investigated if APAM at different concentrations (0.5-10 mg/L) would attach and flocculate MPs, when these occurred in concentrations relevant for oceanic SW (1 mg/L). Two types of MPs, diatomaceous earth and kaolin, were exposed to fluorescence-tagged APAM (APAM-TAG). A low-energy carousel system with natural seawater (SW) was used for incubation of MPs and APAM-TAG at a temperature relevant for the Norwegian Continental Shelf (13 °C). Attachment to MPs and aggregates of these were analysed by fluorometry and fluorescence microscopy. Particle analyses showed that only minor fractions of the MPs aggregated. When samples were separated in steel filter with a mesh size of 20 μm, APAM-TAG was mainly measured in the flow-through fraction (<20 μm), and the results therefore showed that the polymer mainly remained in the water-phase, or was attached to small particles (<20 μm). For the small fraction of APAM attaching to aggregated MPs, attraction to kaolin was higher than to diatomaceous earth, and fluorescence microscopy analyses confirmed the presence of fluorescent particles at the higher APAM concentrations. MPs at concentrations relevant for oceanic SW are therefore not expected to significantly contribute to sedimentation of APAM dissolved in the water column.
PubMed: 33333302
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143888 -
Environmental Research Jan 2020To ameliorate adsorbent recovery by an external magnetic field, naturally occurring diatomaceous earth (DE) was modified with iron-oxide, characterized and applied for...
To ameliorate adsorbent recovery by an external magnetic field, naturally occurring diatomaceous earth (DE) was modified with iron-oxide, characterized and applied for adsorption of carbamazepine (CBZ) from synthetic wastewater using batch equilibration method. The fabricated adsorbent was characterized using XRF, XRD, SEM-EDX, FT-IR, BET surface area analysis, VSM and pH of point of zero charge (pH) determination. The adsorption rate was described by the pseudo-first-order (PFO) model suggesting a physisorption controlled rate-determining step. Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to linear and nonlinear isotherm models, viz Langmuir and Freundlich models, and were best described by Freundlich nonlinear equations implying heterogeneous multilayer adsorption. The best-fitting kinetic and isotherm model was determined using four mathematical error functions. The thermodynamic parameters, namely enthalpy (ΔH = -26.4 kJ mol), Gibbs free energy (ΔG = -2.22 kJ mol at 298 K), entropy (ΔS = -34.0 kJ mol), indicated that the adsorption was a spontaneous, exothermic, and physical process. The adsorption mechanism is postulated to involve cation-π interactions. Modified diatomaceous earth is a potentially excellent, low-cost, and novel sorbent for CBZ adsorption with 88% removal in 180 min and provides a possible alternative adsorbent for wastewater treatment.
Topics: Adsorption; Carbamazepine; Diatomaceous Earth; Ferric Compounds; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Thermodynamics; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 31732171
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108898 -
Insects Jul 2022Cases of Lyme disease in humans are on the rise in the United States and Canada. The vector of the bacteria that causes this disease is the blacklegged tick, . Current...
Cases of Lyme disease in humans are on the rise in the United States and Canada. The vector of the bacteria that causes this disease is the blacklegged tick, . Current control methods for mainly involve chemical acaricides. Unfortunately, ticks are developing resistance to these chemicals, and more and more, the public prefers non-toxic alternatives to chemical pesticides. We discovered that volcanic glass, Imergard WP, and other industrial minerals such as Celite 610 were efficacious mechanical insecticides against mosquitoes, filth flies, and agricultural pests. In this report, when 6-10- and 50-70-day old unfed nymphs were dipped for 1-2 s into Celite, the time to 50% mortality (LT) was 66.8 and 81.7 min, respectively, at 30 °C and 50% relative humidity (RH). The LT was actually shorter at a higher 70% RH, 43.8 min. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the ticks were coated over most of their body surface, including partial to almost total coverage of the opening to their respiratory system. The other mechanical insecticide, Imergard, had similar efficacy against blacklegged unfed nymphs with an LT at 30 °C and 50% RH of 70.4 min. Although more research is needed, this study suggests that industrial minerals could be used as an alternative to chemical pesticides to control ticks and Lyme disease.
PubMed: 35893027
DOI: 10.3390/insects13080672 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2020The early diagnosis and monitoring of cancers are key factors in effective cancer treatment. Particularly, the separation of biomolecules is an essential step for both...
The early diagnosis and monitoring of cancers are key factors in effective cancer treatment. Particularly, the separation of biomolecules is an essential step for both diagnostic and analytical purposes. However, the current techniques used to isolate biomolecules are intensive, laborious, and require multiple instruments as well as repeated sample preparations to separate each biomolecule. Thus, an efficient separation system that can simultaneously separate biomolecules from scarce samples is highly desirable. Hence, in this study, we developed a biosilica-based syringe filtration system for the efficient separation of biomolecules from cancer samples using amine-modified diatomaceous earth (AD) with dimethyl 3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate (DTBP). The syringe filter can be an efficient and rapid tool for use in various procedures without complex instruments. The DTBP-based AD system was combined with the syringe filter system for nucleic acid and protein separation from various cancer cells. We demonstrated the efficacy of the DTBP-based AD in a single-filter system for the efficient separation of DNA and proteins within 40 min. This DTBP-based AD syringe filter system showed good rapidity, efficiency, and affordability in the separation of biomolecules from single samples for the early diagnosis and clinical analysis of cancers.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; DNA, Neoplasm; Diatomaceous Earth; Humans; Imidoesters; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplasms; Tumor Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 32973156
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72913-8 -
Scientific Reports May 2022Novel metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been fabricated with Ti6Al4V matrix and a biogenic ceramic filler in the form of diatomaceous earth (DE). Mixtures of DE and...
Novel metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been fabricated with Ti6Al4V matrix and a biogenic ceramic filler in the form of diatomaceous earth (DE). Mixtures of DE and Ti6Al4V powders were consolidated by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. Microstructure of the consolidated samples has been investigated with microscopic techniques and XRD. Thermomechanical characteristics have been obtained using small-sample techniques. The results obtained indicate that the fabricated composites show outstanding mechanical and thermal properties due to synergic effects between the filler and the matrix (beyond the rule of mixtures).
Topics: Ceramics; Materials Testing; Titanium
PubMed: 35610349
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12855-5 -
International Journal of Biological... May 2024Intelligent wound management has important potential for promoting the recovery of chronic wounds caused by diabetes. Here, inspired by the field of kirigami, smart...
Intelligent wound management has important potential for promoting the recovery of chronic wounds caused by diabetes. Here, inspired by the field of kirigami, smart patterned high-stretch microneedle dressings (KPMDs) based on gene-modified spider silk proteins were developed to achieve sensitive biochemical and physiological sensing. The spider silk protein (spidroin) has excellent tensile properties, ductility, toughness and biocompatibility. Notably, the kirigami method-prepared kirigami structure of the spidroin MN dressing had a high tensile strength , while its ductility reached approximately 800 %. Moreover, the unique optical properties of photonic crystals allow for fluorescence enhancement, providing KPMD with color-sensitive properties suitable for wound management and clinical guidance. Furthermore, to improve the sensitivity of KPMD-s to motion monitoring, a microelectronic matrix was integrated on its surface. These distinct material properties suggest that this research lays the foundation for a new generation of high-performance biomimetic diatomaceous earth materials for application.
Topics: Fibroins; Animals; Needles; Wound Healing; Biomimetic Materials; Bandages; Tensile Strength; Humans; Biocompatible Materials
PubMed: 38663709
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131838 -
Heliyon Jun 2023A rhodamine-derived receptor was synthesized and comprehensively characterized for structural confirmation. The receptor was able to distinguish the copper ions (Cu)...
A rhodamine-derived receptor was synthesized and comprehensively characterized for structural confirmation. The receptor was able to distinguish the copper ions (Cu) from other competing cations. The yellow color of the receptor changed to pink upon adding Cu ions, however, other competing cations ions were impotent towards any color variation. The UV-visible titration studies revealed the binding stoichiometry of a 1:1 ratio with a detection limit of 9.663 × 10 M. Additionally, a novel idea of the work resides in the use of diatom for the practical application, where the receptor has been tethered on nanoporous diatomaceous earth microparticles (P2D) to remove Cu ions. The results confirmed that 50 mg receptor functionalized DE could adsorb 10 mL of 1 ppm Cu ions from water. Furthermore, a proof-of-concept device that is inexpensive, simple to operate, and continuously removes Cu ions from water has been developed. The efficiency of the device in Cu ion removal could be realized through the naked eye by observing the color change of P2D particles, which has excellent potential for application in remote locations where water contamination is a significant issue.
PubMed: 37484332
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16600 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021The authors of this paper use an original method of diatomaceous earth fractionation, which allows for obtaining a filler with a specific particle size distribution. The...
The authors of this paper use an original method of diatomaceous earth fractionation, which allows for obtaining a filler with a specific particle size distribution. The method makes it possible to separate small, disintegrated and broken diatom frustules from those which maintained their original form in diatomaceous earth. The study covers a range of tests conducted to prove that such a separated diatomic fraction (3-30 µm) shows features different from the base diatomite (from 1 to above 40 µm) used as an epoxy resin filler. We have examined the mechanical properties of a series of diatomite/resin composites, considering the weight fraction of diatoms and the parameters of the composite production process. The studied composites of Epidian 601 epoxy resin cross-linked with amine-based curing agent Z-1 contained 0 to 70% vol. of diatoms or diatomaceous earth. Samples were produced by being casted into silicone molds in vacuum degassing conditions and, alternatively, without degassing. The results have shown that the size and morphology of the filler based on diatomaceous earth affects mechanical and rheological properties of systems based on epoxy resin. Elongation at rupture and flexural stress at rupture were both raised by up to 35%, and impact strength by up to 25%.
PubMed: 33800695
DOI: 10.3390/ma14071663