Potential Scaffold Research Articles

Fabrication, Characterisation, and Biocompatibility of Graphene-loaded Polymannose-Chitosan Scaffold for Potential Drug Screening Applications

Graphene-loaded polymannose-chitosan scaffolds have emerged as promising candidates for drug screening applications due to their unique properties. The combination of polymannose and chitosan, supplemented with graphene, offers a versatile platform with potential applications including drug screening. The aim of this study is to fabricate and characterize the biocompatible graphene oxide loaded polymannose chitosan scaffold (PM-Chi-GO) for potential drug screening applications. The scaffold was meticulously prepared by combining oxidized polymannose with chitosan hydrochloride and graphene oxide, employing gelation techniques. Characterization involved Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for functional group analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphological studies. The biocompatibility of the scaffold was assessed using Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). FTIR analysis revealed distinctive peaks at 3296, 1624, 1528, 1389, 1060, and 808 cm-1, corresponding to specific functional groups within the scaffold. SEM displayed a porous morphological structure. Biocompatibility testing with PBMCs demonstrated favorable responses, confirming the scaffold's potential for in vitro drug screening applications. The synthesized PM-Chi-GO is characterized by its unique structural and biocompatible properties and holds significant promise for future drug screening endeavors. This study establishes a foundation for the utilization of this scaffold in drug screening applications.

Incorporation of GelMA/PEGDA into the Decellularized Cornea as a Potential Hybrid Scaffold for In Situ Repairing of Deep Anterior Corneal Defects

Incorporation of GelMA/PEGDA into the Decellularized Cornea as a Potential Hybrid Scaffold for In Situ Repairing of Deep Anterior Corneal Defects

PSMA-reactive NB7 single domain antibody fragment: A potential scaffold for developing prostate cancer theranostics

IntroductionSingle domain antibody fragments (sdAbs) are an appealing scaffold for radiopharmaceutical development due to their small size (~15 kDa), high solubility, high stability, and excellent tumor penetration. Previously, we developed NB7 sdAb, which has very high affinity for an epitope on PSMA that is different from those targeted by small molecule PSMA inhibitors. Herein, we evaluated NB7 after radioiodination using [*I]SGMIB (1,3,4-isomer) and iso-[*I]SGMIB (1,3,5-isomer), as well as their 211At-labeled analogues. Methods[*I]SGMIB, iso-[*I]SGMIB, [211At]SAGMB, and iso-[211At]SAGMB conjugates of NB7 sdAb were synthesized and their binding affinity, cell uptake and internalization were assessed in PSMA+ PC3 PIP and PSMA− PC3 flu cells. Biodistribution studies were performed in mice bearing PSMA+ PC3 PIP xenografts. First, a single-label experiment evaluated the tissue distribution of a NB7 bearing a His6-tag (NB7H6) and labeled with iso-[125I]SGMIB. Three paired-label experiments then were performed to compare: a) NB7 labeled using [*I]SGMIB and iso-[*I]SGMIB, b) 131I- vs 211At-labeled NB7 conjugates and c) [125I]SGMIB-NB7H6 to the small molecule PSMA inhibitor [131I]YF2. ResultsAll NB7 radioconjugates bound specifically to PSMA with dissociation constants, Kd, in the low nM range (1.4–6.4 nM). An initial biodistribution study demonstrated good tumor uptake for iso-[125I]SGMIB-NB7H6 (7.2 ± 1.5 % ID/g at 1 h) and no deleterious effect of the His6-tag on renal activity levels, which declined to 3.1 ± 1.1 % ID/g by 4 h. Paired-label biodistribution found no distinction between the two SGMIB isomer NB7 conjugates with the [131I]SGMIB-NB7-to-iso-[125I]SGMIB-NB7 tumor uptake ratios not significantly different from unity: 1.06 ± 0.08 at 1 h, 1.04 ± 0.12 at 4 h, and 1.07 ± 0.09 at 24 h. Both isomer conjugates cleared rapidly from normal tissues and exhibited very low uptake in thyroid, lacrimal and salivary glands. Paired-label biodistribution of [131I]SGMIB-NB7H6 and [211At]SAGMB-NB7H6 demonstrated similar tumor uptake and kidney clearance for the two radioconjugates. However, levels of 211At in thyroid, stomach, salivary and lacrimal glands were significantly higher (P < 0.05) that those for 131I suggesting greater dehalogenation for [211At]SAGMB-NB7H6. Finally, co-administration of [125I]SGMIB-NB7H6 and [131I]YF2 demonstrated good tumor uptake for both with considerably more rapid renal clearance for the NB7 radioconjugate. ConclusionNB7 radioconjugates exhibited good accumulation in PSMA-positive xenografts with rapid clearance from kidney and other normal tissues. We conclude that NB7 is a potentially useful scaffold for developing PSMA-targeted theranostics with different characteristics than current small molecule and antibody-based approaches.

Redox-Responsive "Catch and Release" Cryogels: A Versatile Platform for Capture and Release of Proteins and Cells.

Macroporous cryogels are attractive scaffolds for biomedical applications, such as biomolecular immobilization, diagnostic sensing, and tissue engineering. In this study, thiol-reactive redox-responsive cryogels with a porous structure are prepared using photopolymerization of a pyridyl disulfide poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PDS-PEG-MA) monomer. Reactive cryogels are produced using PDS-PEG-MA and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA) monomers, along with a PEG-based cross-linker and photoinitiator. Functionalization of cryogels using a fluorescent dye via the disulfide-thiol exchange reactions is demonstrated, followed by release under reducing conditions. For ligand-mediated protein immobilization, first, thiol-containing biotin or mannose is conjugated onto the cryogels. Subsequently, fluorescent dye-labeled proteins streptavidin and concanavalin A (ConA) are immobilized via ligand-mediated conjugation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the mannose-decorated cryogel could capture ConA selectively from a mixture of lectins. The efficiency of protein immobilization could be easily tuned by changing the ratio of the thiol-sensitive moiety in the scaffold. Finally, an integrin-binding cell adhesive peptide is attached to cryogels to achieve successful attachment, and the on-demand detachment of integrin-receptor-rich fibroblast cells is demonstrated. Redox-responsive cryogels can serve as potential scaffolds for a variety of biomedical applications because of their facile synthesis and modification.

CHITOSAN COLLAGEN HYDROGEL: A POTENTIAL SCAFFOLD BIOMATERIAL FOR PERIODONTAL REGENERATIVE TREATMENT

Introduction: Hydrogels are considered a promising scaffold biomaterial for regenerative periodontal treatment. The development of collagen and chitosan based hydrogels can improve the final characteristics of the hydrogel. Review: Collagen and chitosan are the two main materials used to design scaffolds for tissue engineering. Collagen is a material that is often used to develop hydrogels because it has the advantage of high biocompatibility. In the biomedical field, collagen is often used as a drug delivery system. Collagen has weak mechanical strength so other biomaterials are needed for its use. Chitosan material has high biocompatibility and a slow degradation rate. So the combination of these two materials is a strategic choice for making promising biomaterial scaffolds in periodontal regenerative treatment. Conclusion: Chitosan collagen hydrogel is a potential scaffold biomaterial for periodontal regenerative treatment.

Schiff base crosslinked hyaluronic acid hydrogels with tunable and cell instructive time-dependent mechanical properties

The dynamic interplay between cells and their native extracellular matrix (ECM) influences cellular behavior, imposing a challenge in biomaterial design. Dynamic covalent hydrogels are viscoelastic and show self-healing ability, making them a potential scaffold for recapitulating native ECM properties. We aimed to implement kinetically and thermodynamically distinct crosslinkers to prepare self-healing dynamic hydrogels to explore the arising properties and their effects on cellular behavior. To do so, aldehyde-substituted hyaluronic acid (HA) was synthesized to generate imine, hydrazone, and oxime crosslinked dynamic covalent hydrogels. Differences in equilibrium constants of these bonds yielded distinct properties including stiffness, stress relaxation, and self-healing ability. The effects of degree of substitution (DS), polymer concentration, crosslinker to aldehyde ratio, and crosslinker functionality on hydrogel properties were evaluated. The self-healing ability of hydrogels was investigated on samples of the same and different crosslinkers and DS to obtain hydrogels with gradient properties. Subsequently, human dermal fibroblasts were cultured in 2D and 3D to assess the cellular response considering the dynamic properties of the hydrogels. Moreover, assessing cell spreading and morphology on hydrogels having similar modulus but different stress relaxation rates showed the effects of matrix viscoelasticity with higher cell spreading in slower relaxing hydrogels.

Targeting PD-1/PD-L-1 immune checkpoint inhibition for cancer immunotherapy: success and challenges.

The programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1) acts as a T-cell brake, and its interaction with ligand-1 (PD-L-1) interferes with signal transduction of the T-cell receptor. This leads to suppression of T-cell survival, proliferation, and activity in the tumor microenvironment resulting in compromised anticancer immunity. PD-1/PD-L-1 interaction blockade shown remarkable clinical success in various cancer immunotherapies. To date, most PD-1/PD-L-1 blockers approved for clinical use are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs); however, their therapeutic use are limited owing to poor clinical responses in a proportion of patients. mAbs also displayed low tumor penetration, steep production costs, and incidences of immune-related side effects. This strongly indicates the importance of developing novel inhibitors as cancer immunotherapeutic agents. Recently, advancements in the small molecule-based inhibitors (SMIs) that directly block the PD-1/PD-L-1 axis gained attention from the scientific community involved in cancer research. SMIs demonstrated certain advantages over mAbs, including longer half-lives, low cost, greater cell penetration, and possibility of oral administration. Currently, several SMIs are in development pipeline as potential therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy. To develop new SMIs, a wide range of structural scaffolds have been explored with excellent outcomes; biphenyl-based scaffolds are most studied. In this review, we analyzed the development of mAbs and SMIs targeting PD-1/PD-L-1 axis for cancer treatment. Altogether, the present review delves into the problems related to mAbs use and a detailed discussion on the development and current status of SMIs. This article may provide a comprehensive guide to medicinal chemists regarding the potential structural scaffolds required for PD-1/PD-L-1 interaction inhibition.

Cyclic Imides Derivatives: A Potential Scaffold For The Synthesis Of Anticonvulsant Agents

Cyclic non-aromatic nitrogen heterocycles such as phthalimides, maleimides, and succinimides are an intriguing class of compounds with an immense range of biological activities such as anti-convulsant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, analgesic, and hypolipidemic activities, as well as numerous pharmaceutical uses. Phthalimide, maleimide, and succinimide have an imide functional group and can be considered nitrogen analogs of anhydrides. The imide ring and general structure of CO-N(R)-CO found in cyclic imides, including phthalimides, maleimides, succinimides, and their derivatives, impart hydrophobicity and neutral properties onto the respective derivatives. The unsubstituted cyclic imide is a crucial feature that has been shown to retain considerable biological activity. In this article, we intend to investigate several phthalimides, maleimides, and succinimide derivatives, their chemistry, structural activity relationship (SAR), and anticonvulsant activity, considering their immense biological activities.

Application of extracellular matrix cross-linked by microbial transglutaminase to promote wound healing

One primary focus of skin tissue engineering has been the creation of innovative biomaterials to facilitate rapid wound healing. Extracellular matrix (ECM), an essential biofunctional substance, has recently been discovered to play a crucial role in wound healing. Consequently, we endeavored to decellularize ECM from pig achilles tendon and refine its mechanical and biological properties through modification by utilizing cross-linking agents. Glutaraldehyde (GA), 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS), double aldol starch (DAS), and microbial transglutaminase (MTG) were utilized to produce crosslinked ECM variants (GA-ECM, EDC/NHS-ECM, DAS-ECM, and MTG-ECM). Comprehensive assessments were conducted to evaluate the physical properties, biocompatibility, and wound healing efficacy of each material. The results indicated that MTG-ECM exhibited superior tensile strength, excellent hydrophilicity, minimal cytotoxicity, and the best pro-healing impact among the four modified scaffolds. Staining analysis of tissue sections further revealed that MTG-ECM impeded the transition from type III collagen to type I collagen in the wound area, potentially reducing the development of wound scar. Therefore, MTG-ECM is expected to be a potential pro-skin repair scaffold material to prevent scar formation.

Toward More Selective Antibiotic Inhibitors: A Structural View of the Complexed Binding Pocket of E. coli Peptide Deformylase.

Peptide deformylase (PDF) is involved in bacterial protein maturation processes. Originating from the interest in a new antibiotic, tremendous effort was put into the refinement of PDF inhibitors (PDFIs) and their selectivity. We obtained a full NMR backbone assignment the emergent additional protein backbone resonances of ecPDF 1-147 in complex with 2-(5-bromo-1H-indol-3-yl)-N-hydroxyacetamide (2), a potential new structural scaffold for more selective PDFIs. We also determined the complex crystal structures of E. coli PDF (ecPDF fl) and 2. Our structure suggests an alternative ligand conformation within the protein, a possible starting point for further selectivity optimization. The orientation of the second ligand conformation in the crystal structure points toward a small region of the S1' pocket, which differs between bacterial PDFs and human PDF. Moreover, we analyzed the binding mode of 2 via NMR TITAN line shape analysis, revealing an induced fit mechanism.

Exploring chemical space, scaffold diversity, and activity landscape of spleen tyrosine kinase active inhibitors

ABSTRACT This study aims to comprehensively characterize 576 inhibitors targeting Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (SYK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase primarily found in haematopoietic cells, with significant relevance to B-cell receptor function. The objective is to gain insights into the structural requirements essential for potent activity, with implications for various therapeutic applications. Through chemoinformatic analyses, we focus on exploring the chemical space, scaffold diversity, and structure-activity relationships (SAR). By leveraging ECFP4 and MACCS fingerprints, we elucidate the relationship between chemical compounds and visualize the network using RDKit and NetworkX platforms. Additionally, compound clustering and visualization of the associated chemical space aid in understanding overall diversity. The outcomes include identifying consensus diversity patterns to assess global chemical space diversity. Furthermore, incorporating pairwise activity differences enhances the activity landscape visualization, revealing heterogeneous SAR patterns. The dataset analysed in this work has three activity cliff generators, CHEMBL3415598, CHEMBL4780257, and CHEMBL3265037, compounds with high affinity to SYK are very similar to compounds analogues with reasonable potency differences. Overall, this study provides a critical analysis of SYK inhibitors, uncovering potential scaffolds and chemical moieties crucial for their activity, thereby advancing the understanding of their therapeutic potential.

Aryl-isoquinoline as a Potential Scaffold for Novel Antitumor Agents against Glioblastoma Cells

Background: Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive types of tumors, which occurs in the central nervous system, and has a high fatality rate. Among the cellular changes observed in glioblastoma is the overexpression of certain anti-apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl-xL. Recently, the alkaloid sanguinarine (SAN) was identified as a potent inhibitor of this class of proteins. Objective: In this work, the antitumor activity of ten aryl-isoquinolines that were synthesized based on molecular simplification of SAN was investigated. Methods: The SAN derivatives were prepared by Suzuki reaction and bimolecular nucleophilic substitution. The compounds were tested against glioblastoma (U87MG) and melanoma (A375) tumor lines in the MTT and SRB assay. The cell death mechanism was evaluated by flow cytometry. The molecular modeling study was used to evaluate the interactions between the prepared compounds and the Bcl-xL protein. Results: Analogues presented IC50 values against glioblastoma lower than temozolomide. Evaluation against astrocytes and fibroblasts indicated that the analogues were significantly superior to SAN regarding selectivity. The most active compound, 2e, induced phosphatidylserine externalization and mitochondrial membrane depolarization, indicating apoptotic death by the intrinsic pathway. In addition, 2e provides cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Molecular dynamics suggested that 2e interacts with Bcl-xL mainly by hydrophobic interactions. Conclusion: In our study, aryl-isoquinoline represents a relevant scaffold to be explored by medicinal chemists to develop potential anti-glioblastoma agents.

Tannic Acid-Modified Decellularized Tendon Scaffold with Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities for Tendon Regeneration.

Tendon regeneration is greatly influenced by the oxidant and the inflammatory microenvironment. Persistent inflammation during the tendon repair can cause matrix degradation, tendon adhesion, and excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), while excessive ROS affect extracellular matrix remodeling and tendon integration. Herein, we used tannic acid (TA) to modify a decellularized tendon slice (DTS) to fabricate a functional scaffold (DTS-TA) with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for tendon repair. The characterizations and cytocompatibility of the scaffolds were examined in vitro. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the scaffold were evaluated in vitro and further studied in vivo using a subcutaneous implantation model. It was found that the modified DTS combined with TA via hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds, and the hydrophilicity, thermal stability, biodegradability, and mechanical characteristics of the scaffold were significantly improved. Afterward, the results demonstrated that DTS-TA could effectively reduce inflammation by increasing the M2/M1 macrophage ratio and interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression, decreasing the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), as well as scavenging excessive ROS in vitro and in vivo. In summary, DTS modified with TA provides a potential versatile scaffold for tendon regeneration.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Coumarin Analogs Targeted against SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV, an RNA virus, is contagious and displays a remarkable degree of adaptability, resulting in intricate disease presentations marked by frequent genetic mutations that can ultimately give rise to drug resistance. Targeting its viral replication cycle could be a potential therapeutic option to counter its viral growth in the human body leading to the severe infectious stage. The Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 is a promising target for therapeutic development as it is crucial for viral transcription and replication. The derivatives of β-diketone and coumarin have already been reported for their antiviral potential and, thus, are considered as a potential scaffold in the current study for the computational design of potential analogs for targeting the viral replication of SARS-CoV-2. In our study, we used novel diketone-hinged coumarin derivatives against the SARS-CoV-2 MPro to develop a broad-spectrum antiviral agent targeting SARS-CoV-2. Through an analysis of pharmacokinetics and docking studies, we identified a list of the top 10 compounds that demonstrated effectiveness in inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 MPro virus. On the basis of the pharmacokinetics and docking analyses, the top 5 novel coumarin analogs were synthesized and characterized. The thermodynamic stability of compounds KS82 and KS94 was confirmed by their molecular dynamics, and the stability of the simulated system indicated their inhibitory nature. Molecules KS82 and KS94 were further evaluated for their anti-viral potential using Vero E6 cells followed by RT-PCR assay against SARS-CoV-2. The test compound KS82 was the most active with the potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells. These data indicate that KS82 prevents the attack of the virus and emerges as the primary candidate with promising antiviral properties.

Whey Protein Isolate Composites as Potential Scaffolds for Cultivated Meat.

Modern food technology has given rise to numerous alternative protein sources in response to a growing human population and the negative environmental impacts of current food systems. To aid in achieving global food security, one such form of alternative protein being investigated is cultivated meat, which applies the principles of mechanical and tissue engineering to produce animal proteins and meat products from animal cells. Herein, nonmodified and methacrylated whey protein formed hydrogels with methacrylated alginate as potential tissue engineering scaffolds for cultivated meat. Whey protein is a byproduct of dairy processing and was selected because it is an approved food additive and cytocompatible and has shown efficacy in other biomaterial applications. Whey protein and alginate scaffolds were formed via visible light cross-linking in aqueous solutions under ambient conditions. The characteristics of the precursor solution and the physical-mechanical properties of the scaffolds were quantified; while gelation occurred within the homo- and copolymer hydrogels, the integrity of the network was significantly altered with varying components. Qualitatively, the scaffolds exhibited a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected porous network. Whey protein isolate (WPI)-based scaffolds were noncytotoxic and supported in vitro myoblast adhesion and proliferation. The data presented support the hypothesis that the composition of the hydrogel plays a significant role in the scaffold's performance.

Biomimetic Scaffolds-A Novel Approach to Three Dimensional Cell Culture Techniques for Potential Implementation in Tissue Engineering.

Biomimetic scaffolds imitate native tissue and can take a multidimensional form. They are biocompatible and can influence cellular metabolism, making them attractive bioengineering platforms. The use of biomimetic scaffolds adds complexity to traditional cell cultivation methods. The most commonly used technique involves cultivating cells on a flat surface in a two-dimensional format due to its simplicity. A three-dimensional (3D) format can provide a microenvironment for surrounding cells. There are two main techniques for obtaining 3D structures based on the presence of scaffolding. Scaffold-free techniques consist of spheroid technologies. Meanwhile, scaffold techniques contain organoids and all constructs that use various types of scaffolds, ranging from decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) through hydrogels that are one of the most extensively studied forms of potential scaffolds for 3D culture up to 4D bioprinted biomaterials. 3D bioprinting is one of the most important techniques used to create biomimetic scaffolds. The versatility of this technique allows the use of many different types of inks, mainly hydrogels, as well as cells and inorganic substances. Increasing amounts of data provide evidence of vast potential of biomimetic scaffolds usage in tissue engineering and personalized medicine, with the main area of potential application being the regeneration of skin and musculoskeletal systems. Recent papers also indicate increasing amounts of in vivo tests of products based on biomimetic scaffolds, which further strengthen the importance of this branch of tissue engineering and emphasize the need for extensive research to provide safe for humansbiomimetic tissues and organs. In this review article, we provide a review of the recent advancements in the field of biomimetic scaffolds preceded by an overview of cell culture technologies that led to the development of biomimetic scaffold techniques as the most complex type of cell culture.

Enzymatic Synthesis of New Acetoacetate-Ursodeoxycholic Acid Hybrids as Potential Therapeutic Agents and Useful Synthetic Scaffolds as Well.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and acetoacetate are natural compounds present in the human intestine and blood, respectively. A number of studies highlighted that besides their well-known primary biological roles, both compounds possess the ability to influence a variety of cellular processes involved in the etiology of various diseases. These reasons suggested the potential of acetoacetate-UDCA hybrids as possible therapeutic agents and prompted us to develop a synthetic strategy to selectively derivatize the hydroxyl groups of the bile acid with acetoacetyl moieties. 3α-acetoacetoxy UDCA was obtained (60% isolated yield) via the regioselective transesterification of methyl acetoacetate with UDCA promoted by the Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B). 3α,7β-bis-acetoacetoxy UDCA was obtained instead by thermal condensation of methyl acetoacetate and UDCA (80% isolated yield). This bis-adduct was finally converted to the 7β-acetoacetoxy UDCA (82% isolated yield) via CAL-B catalyzed regioselective alcoholysis of the ester group on the 3α position. In order to demonstrate the value of the above new hybrids as UDCA-based scaffolds, 3α-acetoacetoxy UDCA was subjected to multicomponent Biginelli reaction with benzaldehyde and urea to obtain the corresponding 4-phenyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-one derivative in 65% isolated yield.

Adults' learning of complex explanations violates their intuitions about optimal explanatory order

Should you first teach about the purpose of a microwave or about how it heats food? Adults strongly prefer explanations to present function before mechanism and information about a whole to precede information about its component parts. Here we replicate those preferences (Study 1). Using the same stimuli, we then ask whether those pedagogical preferences reflect ease of learning of labels, function, or mechanism. Surprisingly, explanations that accord with function-before-mechanism and whole-before-part structure show no learning benefits to participants compared to other participants who see lessons that violate one or both intuitions (Study 2). Even when potential scaffolds are removed (i.e., diagrams) the preferred pedagogical order does not predict better learning (Study 3). Finally, explanatory order has only modest effects on experiential outcomes (e.g., curiosity, frustration; Study 4). In all cases, all orders of presentation support learning in comparison to controls and are not constrained by either ceiling or floor effects. Reasons for the clash between intuitions about learning and actual outcomes are explored.

Porous MCM‐41 Silica Materials as Scaffolds for Silicon‐based Lithium‐ion Battery Anodes

AbstractAiming for specific energy improvements, lithium‐ion battery (LIB) research explores Si based materials as potential alternatives for the negative electrode/anode. Si exhibits a high specific capacity when lithiated, accompanied by a large volumetric expansion. To mitigate expansion induced failures, composite materials with finely distributed Si inside a scaffold have been established. Potential scaffolds to create such Si composites are nano porous SiO2 materials, such as MCM‐41. MCM‐41 exhibits a fine nanostructure, and the synthesis allows precise tuning of the pore properties and thus, after filling with Si, of Si morphology and Si content in the composite. In this work, insights into relevant MCM‐41 synthesis parameters are acquired, with special attention towards specific pore volumes and pore sizes of the SiO2 powders. Materials characterization is performed using nitrogen sorption analysis, X‐ray scattering, electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Selected MCM‐41 scaffolds are processed to Si composites and integrated into LIB electrodes. The specific capacity and the stability of the Si−SiO2 composites are evaluated by PITT and galvanostatic cycling. They show capacities above 800 mAh g−1, i. e. more than twice the specific capacity of industry standard graphite, and last over 200 charge/discharge cycles before their capacity loss exceeds 25 %.

Effect of Silver Content and T4 Treatment on the In Vitro Degradation Behavior of Gasar Porous Mg–Ag Alloy

Mg–Ag alloy has potential as a material for bone tissue repair, but the faster degradation rate in vivo limits its use in medical applications. In this study, pure Mg and Mg99.5Ag0.5 alloy with a porous structure are prepared using the metal/gas eutectic unidirectional solidification method (Gasar process). The influence of introducing Ag on the degradation behavior of porous Mg99.5Ag0.5 and pure Mg is investigated. The addition of Ag increases the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the material. The corrosion resistance of as‐cast Mg99.5Ag0.5 alloy decreases due to localized aggregation of Ag in the alloys. Therefore, the T4 (solution treatment) is chosen for the Mg99.5Ag0.5 alloy. After T4 treatment, due to the uniform distribution of Ag atoms in the alloy, the corrosion behavior on the alloy surface is more uniform, and a denser Mg(OH)2 passivation layer is formed on the surface, which reduces the degradation rate of Mg99.5Ag0.5. Importantly, insoluble Ca–P compounds in the form of hydroxyapatite (HA) phases gradually grown on passivated layers of porous T4 Mg99.5Ag0.5 contribute to bone growth. This indicates the feasibility of using the T4 Gasar porous Mg99.5Ag0.5 alloy as a potential tissue engineering scaffold.