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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 -
Insects Apr 2024We evaluated the persistence and efficacy of two different, in granulometry and content of diatoms, diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations (i.e., DE5 and DE6), against two...
We evaluated the persistence and efficacy of two different, in granulometry and content of diatoms, diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations (i.e., DE5 and DE6), against two major beetle species of stored products, i.e., (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae). The formulations were applied as powders in soft wheat and maize in two doses of 500 and 1000 mg kg (ppm). Samples of the treated grains were taken on the day of application and every 30 days until completion of the six-month period of storage. Adults of and were exposed to the treated grains at 25 °C and 55% relative humidity, and the mortality was measured after 7, 14, and 21 days of exposure. survival was not affected by any combination of DE formulation, dose, and commodity. Contrariwise, the DEs caused significant adult mortality of , in most of the cases tested. We observed that DE6 was equally effective in both wheat and maize, and no considerable variations were observed in mortality during the 6-month experimental period. Furthermore, DE6 was more effective against than DE5, a difference that could have potentially contributed to the variations in the diatom granulometry between these two DEs. Thus, a DE treatment of 1000 ppm was shown to provide long-term protection of wheat and maize against , but this is strongly dependent on the DE formulation, commodity, and insect species. Overall, such natural resource-based inert silicaceous deposits could be used with success in stored-product protection with only some minor modifications, such as sieving and drying of the raw deposit.
PubMed: 38786875
DOI: 10.3390/insects15050319 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024is a bacterial pathogen capable of causing serious disease in humans and abortions in goats. Infected goats can shed . through urine, feces, and parturient byproducts,...
is a bacterial pathogen capable of causing serious disease in humans and abortions in goats. Infected goats can shed . through urine, feces, and parturient byproducts, which can lead to infections in humans when the bacteria are inhaled. Goats are important . reservoirs as evidenced by goat-related outbreaks across the world. To better understand the current landscape of . infection in the domestic goat population, 4,121 vaginal swabs from 388 operations across the United States were analyzed for the presence of . by IS1111 PCR as part of the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services' National Animal Health Monitoring System Goats 2019 Study. In total, 1.5% (61/4121) of swabs representing 10.3% (40/388) (weighted estimate of 7.8, 95% CI 4.4-13.5) of operations were positive for . DNA. The quantity of . on positive swabs was low with an average Ct of 37.9. Factors associated with greater odds of testing positive included suspected Q fever in the herd in the previous 3 years, the presence of wild deer or elk on the operation, and the utilization of hormones for estrus synchronization. Factors associated with reduced odds of testing positive include the presence of kittens and treatment of herds with high tannin concentrate plants, diatomaceous earth, and tetrahydropyrimidines. analysis demonstrated an inhibitory effect of the tetrahydropyrimidine, pyrantel pamoate, on the growth of . in axenic media as low as 1 μg per mL. The final multivariable logistic regression modeling identified the presence of wild predators on the operation or adjacent property (OR = 9.0, 95% CI 1.3-61.6, value = 0.0248) as a risk factor for . infection.
PubMed: 38774910
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1393296 -
ACS Omega May 2024Efficient hydrogen storage is essential for its use as a sustainable energy carrier. Diatomaceous earth, a high-surface-area siliceous geomaterial, shows potential as a...
Efficient hydrogen storage is essential for its use as a sustainable energy carrier. Diatomaceous earth, a high-surface-area siliceous geomaterial, shows potential as a physisorption material for hydrogen storage. This study analyzes diatomaceous earth's long-term characteristics when subjected to high-pressure hydrogen injection. The diatomaceous earth was subjected to a hydrogen pressure of 1200 psi for a period of 80 days at room temperature. Neither notable morphological or mineralogical changes were observed. Nevertheless, there was a slight reduction in fine particles and a slight increase in larger particles. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area decreased slightly with a significant decrease in pore width. However, the hydrogen adsorption at 77 K temperature was increased significantly (45.5%) after the hydrogen storage test. Moreover, there was a delayed release of molecular water as the temperature increased. These changes suggest that a condensation reaction has occurred involving some of the opal-A silanol groups (Si-O-H), producing molecular water. Bonding through siloxane bridges (Si-O-Si) results in a significant decrease in pore width and increased hydrophobicity (i.e., the interaction between diatomaceous surface and H was increased), thereby enhancing hydrogen adsorption capacity. These findings indicate that diatomaceous earth holds promise as a material for hydrogen storage, with the potential for its hydrogen adsorption capacity to improve over time.
PubMed: 38764626
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c02415 -
ACS Omega Apr 2024Calcium silicate (CS), a new and important bioceramic bone graft material, is prepared by using eggshells, which have a porous structure and are rich in calcium ions....
Calcium silicate (CS), a new and important bioceramic bone graft material, is prepared by using eggshells, which have a porous structure and are rich in calcium ions. Furthermore, the preparation of new CS materials using eggshells and diatomaceous earth minimizes their negative impact on the environment. In this study, we prepared CS materials using a high-temperature calcination method. The composition of the material was demonstrated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the porous structure of the CS material. We also introduced ZnO to prepare ZnO-CS with antibacterial properties and showed that ZnO-CS exhibits excellent antibacterial effects through antibacterial experiments. Subsequent mineralization experiments demonstrated that ZnO-CS promoted the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer. Furthermore, cytotoxicity experiments demonstrated that ZnO-CS had very good biosafety and promoted cell proliferation. These findings were confirmed through subsequent cell proliferation experiments. Our results indicate that the novel ZnO-CS is a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering.
PubMed: 38708237
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00904 -
BMC Plant Biology May 2024Among different adsorbents, natural and inorganic compounds such as diatomite are important and advantageous in terms of high efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and...
BACKGROUND
Among different adsorbents, natural and inorganic compounds such as diatomite are important and advantageous in terms of high efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and function in stabilizing heavy metals in the environment. Calendula officinalis, a plant known as a high accumulator of heavy metals, was cultivated in soil treated with varying concentrations of modified diatomite to demonstrate the efficiency of modified diatomite in stabilizating of heavy metals in soils, RESULTS: The modification of diatomite aimed to enhance Calendula officinalis adsorptive properties, particularly towards heavy metals such as lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Chromium (Cr), Nickle (Ni), and Copper (Cu), common contaminants in industrial soils. The experimental design included both control and treated soil samples, with assessments at regular intervals. Modified diatomite significantly decreased the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in contaminated soils except Zn, evidenced by decreased DTPA extractable heavy metals in soil and also heavy metal concentrations in plant tissues. Using 10% modified diatomite decreased 91% Pb and Cu, 78% Cr, and 79% Ni concentration of plants compared to the control treatment. The highest concentration of Zn in plant tissue was observed in 2.5% modified diatomite treatment. Remarkably, the application of modified diatomite also appeared to improve the nutrient profile of the soil, leading to enhanced uptake of key nutrients like phosphorus (P) 1.18%, and potassium (K) 79.6% in shoots and 82.3% in roots in Calendula officinalis. Consequently, treated plants exhibited improved growth characteristics, including shoots and roots height of 16.98% and 12.8% respectively, and shoots fresh and dry weight of 48.5% and 50.2% respectively., compared to those in untreated, contaminated soil.
CONCLUSION
The findings suggest promising implications for using such amendments in ecological restoration and sustainable agriculture, particularly in areas impacted by industrial pollution.
Topics: Metals, Heavy; Soil Pollutants; Diatomaceous Earth; Calendula; Soil; Biodegradation, Environmental; Environmental Restoration and Remediation
PubMed: 38698319
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05068-7 -
Alkalinity Regulation and Optimization of Cementitious Materials Used in Ecological Porous Concrete.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Ecological porous concrete (EPC) is one of the novel formulations of concrete with unique phytogenic properties. However, achieving both low alkalinity and high strength...
Ecological porous concrete (EPC) is one of the novel formulations of concrete with unique phytogenic properties. However, achieving both low alkalinity and high strength in EPC proves challenging due to the inherently high alkalinity of the pore environment, which hinders the growth of the plant and affects its ecological benefits significantly. This research investigated the utilization of 15 types of chemical admixtures and diatomaceous earth as alkali-reducing agents to optimize the properties of silicate cementitious materials for the applications of EPC. To identify the most effective agents, the pH value and compressive strength of the cement paste were adopted as the screening criteria for the selection of the essential alkali-reducing ingredients. Subsequently, a composite approach combining chemical admixtures and DE was employed to explore the synergistic effects on the pH and strength of silicate cementitious materials. The results revealed that a combination of 8% DE, 5% oxalic acid, and 5% iron sulfate functioned effectively and resulted in desirable performance for the concrete. This synergistic blend effectively consumed a large amount of Ca(OH), reducing the pH of cement paste to 10.48 within 3 days. Furthermore, the hydration reaction generated C-S-H with a low Ca/Si ratio, leading to a remarkable increase in the compressive strength of the concrete, reaching 89.7 MPa after 56 days. This composite approach ensured both low alkalinity and high strength in silicate cementitious materials, providing a theoretical basis for the application and promotion of EPC in the ecological field.
PubMed: 38673275
DOI: 10.3390/ma17081918 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024This study aimed to create new composite materials based on diatomite-a non-organic porous compound-through its surface modification with bioactive organic compounds,...
This study aimed to create new composite materials based on diatomite-a non-organic porous compound-through its surface modification with bioactive organic compounds, both synthetic and natural. Chloramphenicol, tetrahydroxymethylglycoluril and betulin were used as modifying substances. Composite materials were obtained by covering the diatomite surface with bioactive substance compounds as a solution and material dispersion in it. The materials were characterized by IR spectroscopy, SEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For the biocomposites, the hemolytic effect, plasma proteins' adsorption on the surface and the antibacterial activity of the obtained materials were studied. Results show that the obtained materials are promising for medicine and agriculture.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chloramphenicol; Diatomaceous Earth; Adsorption; Biocompatible Materials
PubMed: 38611887
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071608 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024In this work, diatomaceous earth (Diat) was explored as filler for polycaprolactone (PCL) to obtain composite green materials with promising viscoelastic and thermal...
In this work, diatomaceous earth (Diat) was explored as filler for polycaprolactone (PCL) to obtain composite green materials with promising viscoelastic and thermal properties. The composites were prepared by blending variable Diat amounts (5, 15 and 50 wt%) with a molten PCL matrix. The viscoelastic characteristics of PCL/Diat hybrids were studied by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) under an oscillatory regime, while the thermal properties were determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). We detected that the presence of Diat enhances the energy storage capacity of PCL for temperatures lower than the polymer melting point. Both DMA and DSC data revealed that the PCL melting temperature is slightly affected by the Diat addition, while the TGA results showed that the thermal stability of the polymer can be significantly improved by mixing PCL with diatomaceous earth. Moreover, we observed that the dispersion of Diat into the matrix favors the crystallization process of PCL. Interestingly, the improvements of PCL properties (elasticity, thermal stability, and crystallinity) are proportional to the Diat concentration of the composites. These findings reflect the interfacial compatibility between PCL and diatomaceous earth. In conclusion, this study highlights that the preparation of PCL/Diat hybrids by melt blending is suitable for the development of composite materials for technological applications, including the remediation of air pollutants within museum environments.
PubMed: 38542840
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29061203 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Feb 2024This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of Metarhizium robertsii, diatomaceous earth (Protect-It), and lambda-cyhalothrin, for the long-term protection of stored...
This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of Metarhizium robertsii, diatomaceous earth (Protect-It), and lambda-cyhalothrin, for the long-term protection of stored wheat against three destructive grain insect pests, Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum, and Trogoderma granarium. Different treatments were applied, both alone and in paired combinations in laboratory and persistence trials. Single treatments exhibited significantly lower mortality rates in comparison to the paired treatments for all tested insect species. Among the single treatments, lambda-cyhalothrin (Lamb) resulted in significantly higher mortality rates in laboratory trials, followed by diatomaceous earth (DE) and M. robertsii (Mr), with insignificant differences between Mr and DE. Evidently, DE exhibited the highest persistence after 120 days of storage for all insect species and initial exposures, although variations in mortality rates among treatments were mostly insignificant. Overall, the most effective treatment in terms of mortality in laboratory, and persistence trials, and progeny production was DE + Lamb, followed by Mr + Lamb, and Mr + DE for all tested insect species. In general, the most susceptible insect species was R. dominica, followed by T. castaneum and T. granarium. This research highlights the effectiveness of M. robertsii, DE, and lambda-cyhalothrin in providing prolonged protection of stored wheat against all the examined grain insect species.
Topics: Animals; Sheep; Insecticides; Diatomaceous Earth; Coleoptera; Insecta; Edible Grain; Nitriles; Pyrethrins
PubMed: 38294649
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-31824-1