Surface Modification Of Materials Research Articles

Surface structuring and in situ synthesis of nanoparticles by ultrashort laser processing on hydroxyapatite

Ultrashort laser pulses represent a versatile tool that finds application in a variety of fields allowing precise and controlled modification of any kind of materials. The material surface modification, by inducing the formation of micro and nanostructures or providing chemical changes, or its functionalization with other materials, in form of nanoparticles, strongly affects the behavior and performances of such materials. The surface structuring and the synthesis and deposition of metallic nanoparticles has both been obtained by laser exposure. The two processes are performed consecutively, on hydroxyapatite sample surface. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) takes place on the sample surface, while immersed in a solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3), by laser-induced multiphoton photoreduction of silver ions (Ag+).

Investigation of electromagnetic wave absorption and anti-corrosion mechanism of multifunctional Ni/AlN composite coatings with core-shell structure by laser cladding

Developing efficient microwave absorbing materials (MAMs) suitable for prolonged use in marine environments is of great importance. Laser cladding serves as one of the new techniques for the material of surface modification and microwave-absorbing materials in the 3D printing. However, it is usually challenging to prepare materials that combine desirable printability, corrosion resistance, and microwave absorption properties using this technology. To enhance the microwave absorption of laser-clad Ni-based alloys, the method of impedance modulation was employed by incorporating ceramic powders with varying AlN content. The results show that Ni/AlN/MWCNTs composite functional materials with core-shell heterostructures were prepared under optimized laser processing parameters. This unique core-shell structure optimizes impedance matching increased polarization loss and multiple scattering to boost microwave absorption. The optimized 20wt% AlN content resulted in a minimum RL of -13.24dB at 13.86GHz, in addition, electrochemical tests showed that AlN enhanced the resistance to the corrosion medium transfer during the corrosion process, and the corrosion resistance of the Ni/AlN/MWCNTs composites material (self-corrosion current density (8.52 × 10-8), the charge transfer resistance (1.55 × 10-5)). Therefore, this work provides innovative theoretical and practical insight for the design and manufacture of advanced microwave-absorbing materials for harsh environments by laser melting technology.

The Role of Plasma Technology in surface modification of textiles

The Role of Plasma Technology in surface modification of textiles

Unraveling the complex infiltration and repairing behaviors in defect coatings

Organic coatings are commonly used to protect the metals or alloys from corrosion. However, defects such as scratches or natural aging of the coating can induce unexpected diffusion paths for the corrosive media, so the wettability of repairing liquids and the selection of suitable repairing liquids are crucial. In this study, we systematically investigated the capillary impregnation phenomenon by using liquids with various surface tensions and glass capillaries with different surface energies. We utilized this regularity to instruct the defects repairing process. By using an ultra-depth field microscope, scanning electron microscope, and electrochemical analysis, two kinds of repairing liquids, high surface tension liquid (HSTL) and low surface tension liquid (LSTL), were investigated for repairing man-made defects of coatings. Our results showed that the substrate and the surface energy of the liquids significantly influence the infiltration of the repair liquid. By effectively leveraging the relationship between the repair liquid and the substrate, the repair agent can not only establish a uniform and dense repairing layer but also notably enhance the corrosion resistance of the defective coating. This study provides valuable insights into the repairing of coating defects, as well as liquids transportation, microfluidic chip design, and surface modification of microporous materials.

Multi-ion magnetized sheath properties with non-extensive electron distribution

Magnetized plasma sheath plays an important role in semiconductor processing, material surface modification, film deposition, etc. In plasma experiments and discharge applications, multi-ion plasma consisting of more than two kinds of ions often exists. For a long range interacting plasma system, non-Maxwellian electrons can be described by the non-extensive distribution of Tsallis. In this work, a fluid model with one-dimensional spatial coordinates and three-dimensional velocity coordinates is established for the multi-ion plasma sheath. It is assumed that the electron velocity in the sheath follows a non-extensive distribution, and the background helium ions and different kinds of impurity ions are magnetized in a magnetic field with a certain tilt angle. The effects of non-extensive parameters, impurity ions and oblique magnetic field on the number density, velocity, wall potential and kinetic energy of ions in the multi-ion magnetic sheath are investigated by numerical simulation. The results show that in the helium-hydrogen or helium-argon mixed plasma sheath, the ionic velocity along the vertical wall direction decreases with the increase of the non-extensive parameters, the number density of ions and electrons in the sheath, the sheath thickness , and the kinetic energy of ions at the wall decrease. When the concentration of impurity ions increases, the kinetic energy of ions on the wall is independent of the type of ions. With the increase of magnetic field intensity, the number density of helium ions and the velocity along the vertical wall fluctuate along the sheath edge, and the fluctuation amplitude increases with the decrease of non-extensive parameters, while the heavy ions have no obvious fluctuation. In addition, the effects of the types and concentrations of impurity ions on the related properties of the sheath are also analyzed. With the increase of the magnetic field intensity, the number density and the velocity along the vertical wall direction fluctuate at the sheath edge, and the fluctuation amplitude increases with the decrease of the non-extensive parameter, whereas there are no significant fluctuations for heavy ions. In addition, when impurity ions are heavy ions, the absolute value of wall potential increases with the increase of impurity ion concentration and the decrease of non-extensibility parameters, and the kinetic energy of background ions increases at the wall surface. When the impurity ion is a light ion, the absolute value of the wall potential decreases with the increase of the impurity ion concentration and the decrease of the non-extensibility parameter, and the kinetic energy of the background ion at the wall decreases.

Recent advances in two-dimensional materials for drug delivery.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit significant potential in biomedical applications, particularly as drug carriers. Thus, 2D materials, including graphene, black phosphorus, transition metal dichalcogenides, transition metal carbides/nitrides, and hexagonal boron nitride, have been extensively studied. Their large specific surface area, abundant surface active sites, and excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability make them ideal platforms for drug loading and delivery. By optimizing the physicochemical properties and methods for the surface modification of 2D materials, improved drug release mechanisms and enhanced combination therapy effects can be achieved, providing a reliable foundation for efficient cancer treatment. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recent advances in the utilization of 2D materials for drug delivery. It systematically categorizes and summarizes the preparation methodologies, surface modification strategies, application domains, primary advantages and potential drawbacks of various 2D materials in the biomedical field. Furthermore, it provides an extensive overview of current challenges in this field and outlines potential future research directions for 2D materials in drug delivery based on existing issues.

Advances in anode current collectors with a lithiophilic gradient for lithium metal batteries.

The practical application of lithium metal batteries (LMBs) is inevitably associated with serious safety risks due to the uncontrolled growth of lithium dendrites. Thus, to inhibit the formation of lithium dendrites, many researchers have focused on constructing three-dimensional porous current collectors with a high specific surface area. However, the homogeneous structure of porous collectors does not effectively guide the deposition of lithium metal to the bottom, leading to a phenomenon known as "top-growth." Recently, the construction of 3D porous current collectors with a lithiophilic gradient has been widely reported and regarded as an effective approach to inhibit lithium top-growth, thus improving battery safety. In this review, we summarize the latest research progress on such anode current collector design strategies, including surface modification of different base materials, design of gradient structures, and field factors, emphasizing their lithium-affinity mechanism and the advantages and disadvantages of different collector designs. Finally, we provide a perspective on the future research directions and applications of gradient affinity current collectors.

Surface modification of alkali-activated materials regarding durability

This paper deals with the possibility of applying a surface modification coating to hybrid alkali-activated materials based on granulated blast-furnace slag activated with disodium metasilicate anhydrous with partial replacement of silica fly ash and cement by-pass dust in the amounts of 15% and 15%. The selected coatings (epoxy and synthetic) were applied in two series - the first, deposited in the water after demolding, and the second, wrapped in foil. The strength of the materials, the thickness of the coating and the effect of scaling resistance were monitored in the experiment. The compressive strength of this mixture was around 68 MPa and the flexural strength was around 6.5 MPa after 28 days of curing. For the tensile strengths of the prepared composites, slightly higher strengths were obtained for the samples deposited in the plastic foil, with the strengths of both series being around 2.4 MPa. For the scaling resistance, the lowest weight losses were achieved for the specimens coated with synthetic coating, which is valid for both deposition methods.

A review on the surface modification of materials for 3D-printed diagnostic devices.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing in tissue engineering and biosensing of analytes by using biocompatible materials or modifying surface structures is an upcoming area of study. This review discusses three common surface modification techniques, viz. alkaline hydrolysis, UV light photografting, and plasma treatment. Alkaline hydrolysis involves the reaction of an alkaline solution with the surface of a material, causing the surface to develop carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. This technique can enhance the biocompatibility, surface wettability, adhesion, printability, and dyeability of materials, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, and polylactic acid (PLA). This review also mentions details about some of the surface-modified 3D-printed diagnostic devices. Although most of the devices are modified using chemical processes, there are always multiple techniques involved while designing a diagnostic device. We have, therefore, mentioned some of the devices based on the materials used instead of categorising them as per modification techniques. 3D printing helps in the design of sophisticated shapes and structures using multiple materials. They can, therefore be used even in the design of microfluidic devices that are very useful for biosensing. We have also mentioned a few materials for printing microfluidic devices.

Surface modification of particles in a photochemical fluidized bed

Different techniques have been recently studied to promote the surface modification of materials. Surface modifications are used to improve the performance of materials in diverse areas, such as chemical processes, pharmaceutical industry and agriculture. Despite the considerable work in the literature on the subject, the experiments carried out were always conducted with small samples of the materials, and the performance of the treatment on a larger scale has yet to be evaluated. This work aimed to make the surface modification of particles of different materials by UV-assisted treatment in a photochemical fluidized bed. The purpose was to verify the feasibility of treating particles with UV radiation on a larger scale, something not yet found in the literature. The analyzed materials were two polymers and four types of forage seeds. The effect of UV radiation on the surface was checked using the water contact angle (WCA) and FTIR analysis. The treated seeds were also submitted to the Standard Germination Test (SGT) to verify eventual physiological damages and possible beneficial effects of the treatment. The results indicated a significant decrease in the contact angle of the treated particles of all materials because of the incorporation of oxygenated groups on their surface. In turn, the SGT pointed out not only that the seeds were not damaged by radiation but also that there was a significant increase in the agronomic index for two of the species studied. The data obtained in this work showed that the photochemical fluidized bed proved a viable way to carry out the surface treatment of particles with UV radiation, making it possible to conduct the process on a larger scale.

Electrochemical modification of the carbon material surface by hydroxyl groups

Electrochemical modification of the carbon material surface by hydroxyl groups

Activation of Dopamine Receptor D1 and Downstream Cellular Functions by Polydopamine.

Polydopamine is a remarkable molecule that has gained considerable attention for its role in material surface modification, leading to an abundance of research in the biomaterial domain. While its widespread use is well documented, the molecule's potential cellular interactions have been less explored. In particular, dopamine serves as a neurotransmitter and a hormone that interacts with dopamine receptors in cells. Our study sheds light on the previously unexamined interaction between polydopamine and dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1). We discovered that polydopamine, along with its derivatives, such as levodopa and catechol, can activate DRD1─a function previously attributed solely to dopamine. Moreover, we found that polydopamine has the ability to influence cell behavior through the cAMP/PKA pathway, thereby affecting RhoA activity and stress fiber formation. These observations invite further consideration regarding the biological safety of polydopamine in biomedical contexts and also open avenues for new research directions in designing bioactive functional materials.

Effect of Oxygen Functionalities inside Carbon Micropore on Lithium-Sulfur Battery Performance

Introduction Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSB) using a sulfur cathode with a high specific capacity (1672 mAh g-1) have been regarded as one of the most promising candidates for large-scale energy storage systems, while the sulfur cathode's drawback hinders the commercial application of LSB. Soluble Li2Sx (x = 4 – 8) generated during a charge-discharge process dissolves into electrolytes, which induces LSB's self-discharge and capacity decay. The main efforts to overcome this issue have been on physical confinement of sulfur in the pores of porous carbons [1,2]; however, carbon materials, being non-polar in nature, interact weakly with the polar Li2Sx, which still leads to low cycle stability of LSB. Hence, the surface modification to porous carbon, which provides polar-polar interaction between the carbon surface and Li2Sx, has been performed, suppressing the Li2Sx dissolution and improving LSB's performance [1,3].On the other hand, we reported that polar-oxygen functionalities on microporous carbon (MC), which are generated with oxidants, significantly improve the discharge capacity of LSB [4]. The formation of Li2Sx (x = 4 – 8) is inhibited in micropores (pore diameter < 2 nm) [5]; therefore, the oxygen functional groups probably improve the discharge capacity of LSB assembled with a MC-sulfur composite cathode due to factors other than the suppression effect of Li2Sx dissolution. Our previous study revealed that oxygen functionalities on the MC surface contribute to the enhanced electrochemical performance of the LSB by preventing electrolyte decomposition and thus decreasing the resistance of the cathode electrolyte interface (Rcei) [6]. However, the ratio of Rcei to the total resistance of the LSB is small; the oxygen functional groups would improve the performance of LSB by affecting other resistance. Herein, we investigate the effect of surface oxygen functionalities on charge transfer resistance (Rct) and Li+ diffusion of LSB. Our report would provide deep insight into the surface modification of carbon materials as LSB’s cathode. Method 2.1. Preparation of Oxidized MC-Sulfur composite MC was added into 69 wt.% HNO3 and refluxed at 120ºC for 2 h (Ox MC). Washed and dried Ox MC was mixed with sulfur at a weight ratio of 48: 52. The mixture was heated at 155ºC for 5 h (Ox MC-S). 2.2. Assembling of Cells To obtain the Ox MC-S cathode, the slurry prepared by mixing the Ox MC-S, acetylene black, carboxymethyl cellulose, and styrene butadiene rubber at a weight ratio of 89: 5: 3: 3 was coated on an Al foil. The cells with the Ox MC-S cathode and Li metal anode were assembled in a glove box. Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI): tetraglyme (G4): 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropylether (HFE) = 10: 8: 40 (by mol) was used as the electrolyte. 2.3. Activation Energy Measurement with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) To elucidate the effect of oxidation treatment on the Rct and Warburg impedance (Rw) of Li-S batteries, activation energy measurement was carried out at 2.5 V in the 50th charging process. The temperature range was 0 – 25°C, and the alternating current voltage amplitude was 10 mV. Rw was investigated with the calculation of the Warburg coefficient (σ). Major results and conclusion The activation energy of Rct (Ect) and σ were determined to investigate the effects of oxygen functional groups formed at MC surfaces on charge transfer processes and Li+ diffusion. While Ect increased from 0.65 to 0.72 eV by oxidation treatment, the frequency factor increased from 17.7 to 20.9; this indicates that the oxygen functional groups improve the number of reaction sites where three substances (carbon, active material, and electrolyte) come into contact with each other. The σ of MC-S and Ox MC-S were 281.2 and 178.9 Ω s-1/2, respectively. Therefore, a decrease in Rw due to oxygen functional groups was suggested.The charge transfer process and Li+ diffusion occur inside the microporous carbon particles where the confined sulfur is present. We processed the Ox MC-S particle from the cathode after the 50th charging using focused ion beam (FIB) milling to obtain a cross-section and observed it with STEM-EELS. This result will also be reported in our presentation.This work was supported by “Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program, Specially Promoted Research for Innovative Next Generation Batteries (ALCA-SPRING [JPMJAL1301])” from JST.[1] X. Ji et al., Nat. Mater., 8 (2009) 500.[2] T. Takahashi et al., Prog. Nat. Sci., 25 (2015) 612.[3] L. Yoshida et al., Electrochim. Acta, 429 (2022) 141000.[4] S. Okabe et al., Electrochemistry, 85 (2017) 671.[5] Y. Xiao et al., RSC Adv., 10 (2020) 39875.[6] L. Yoshida et al., 242nd ECS Meeting s, Z01-2299 (2022).

Flux Growth and Surface Modification of Highly-Crystalline Active Materials and Solid Electrolytes for High Performance Libs

Materials for energy devices are often multicomponent with a number of interfaces and heterojunctions. In particular, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been studied extensively because of their potential use as power sources. Recently, there has been a particular focus on all-solid-state LIBs (and high-performance LIBs). They have attracted considerable attention due to their high energy densities, which are the result of device miniaturization, and high safety due to their non-flammability. However, there is an extremely large innovation gap between general purpose LIBs and all-solid-state LIBs due to difficulties in the smooth transfer of lithium ions, i.e., the diffusion of lithium ions and electrons are disturbed at the interfaces of different solid materials. Therefore, we have tried to control and design their interfaces between active materials and solid electrolytes and fabricate materials for all-solid-state LIBs based on crystal science and engineering. Our research group has developed flux crystal growth and its extended methods for the preparation of high crystalline materials. Flux method is a liquid phase crystal growth in which idiomorphic highly crystalline particles can be obtained below the melting point of the target. Therefore, outmost crystal planes are tuned by our techniques where they have desired various ion and electron paths (i.e., hyper-spaces). In addition, the grown crystals are expected to have high crystallinity because diffusion and rearrangement of atoms easily occurred compared to conventional particle fabrication methods. Recently, we have developed a flux method to fabricate crystal layers on various substrates, which is called "flux coating method". For example, the target LIB-based materials are cathode active materials such as LCO, LNM, NCM, LFP and so on, anode active materials such as LTO, TNO and the related materials, and solid electrolytes such as LLZ, LLT, LLN, etc. and their crystal layers. Furthermore, their surface conditions are precisely controlled in our laboratory. Details on material design and hyperspace control of flux-grown crystalline particles and crystal layers via flux-related techniques will be reported at the 244th ECS Meeting.

Solution-Based Synthesis of Cathode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries

Electrochemical energy storage is expected to make an important contribution to combating global climate change, e.g. via electric vehicles and stationary storage. Currently, lithium-ion batteries are the most prominent candidate for rechargeable batteries to be used in this respect. However, performance of lithium-ion batteries is strongly influenced by the active material at the cathode side, which is often a complex multi-metal oxide. Such a material's properties are dictated by the fabrication method. The design of an appropriate synthesis strategy is then logically also aimed at optimal material properties. However, the design strategy should also take into account green chemistry principles, such as atom economy and energy efficiency. Solution-based routes towards (multi)metal oxide synthesis provide a large diversity of routes and therefore a strong versatility in their design. In this contribution, two groups of routes will be discussed: aqueous solution-gel and coprecipitation routes. The aqueous solution-gel route encompasses three stages: precursor solution synthesis, in which the metal ions are stabilized by complexation with carboxylate ligands, gelation to form an amorphous precursor gel in which the metal ions are homogeneously mixed, and decomposition into the final metal oxide. In this route, precipitation is to be avoided, since it would introduce inhomogeneities. In contrast, the coprecipitation route is entirely based on the formation of insoluble solid precipitates, which can be further transformed in a solid state reaction into lithiated compounds. Whereas solution-gel is ideally suited for complex metal oxides with a large number of metal ions, coprecipitation of many different metal ions at the same time can be challenging. On the other hand, the atom efficiency of the latter can be very high which is attractive for upscaling. Certainly, both of these routes have a high versatility because of the flexibility in compositions (starting products, solvents, ...) and conditions (temperature, time, ...) during the synthesis.In this presentation, an overview will be given of the application of these synthesis routes to the synthesis and/ or surface modification of various cathode materials for lithium ion batteries, which are of general interest and are ranging from Ni-rich compositions of NMC (NMC622), to lithium manganese rich NMC and to Co-free compositions such as LNMO and Li rich LMO. First, the classic NMC 622 is surface modified by a TiOx via a sol-gel route, leading to the formation of core-shell structured particles. The presence of TiOx improved the rate performance and electronic conductivity of the cathode material, and led to a higher initial coulombic efficiency and lower ageing rates in full cells with LTO. Furthermore, layered Li-rich/Mn-rich (LMR-)NMC, which is interesting because of its remarkably high specific discharge capacity was synthesized by two different routes, solution-gel and coprecipitation. It was shown that the solution-gel material in this case had a retarded voltage fade but larger capacity fade than the coprecipitated material. This was correlated to differences in particle morphology and the presence of Ni-enriched spinel-type surface layer. Furthermore, the effect of Sn4+ substitution in the LMR-NMC was investigated. The solubility of Sn4+ substituting for Mn4+ turned out to be a limiting factor here, and could not prevent the voltage fade sufficiently. Finally, we turned to Co-free cathode compositions. LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4-delta was prepared by an aqueous solution-gel route, which allowed to tune the particle size (a few µm versus 70 µm) and morphology. This led to optimized initial discharge capacity and its retention. Finally, Ti4+ substituted Li2MnO3 was synthesized as well via an aqueous solution-gel method. The substitution was shown to improve the structural stability, and galvanostatic cycling hinted at a delayed oxygen release during the first 10 cycles, however, followed by pronounced oxygen redox activity.In conclusion, solution-based routes are highly versatile and provide many opportunities to synthesize cathode materials for lithium ion batteries.

Exploring ablation of GaAs at atomic and close-to-atomic scale by pulsed laser and 3D TTM–MD simulations

Pulsed laser technology offers significant advantages in atomic and closed-to-atomic scale manufacturing due to its high-resolution capabilities in non-contact fabrication as well as its high-efficiency and low-cost. Pulsed laser irradiation experiments on a GaAs surface were conducted to study ablation and atomic-level modification. A three-dimensional two-temperature model, combined with the molecular dynamics (3D TTM–MD) method, was developed to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the material removal and surface modification during pulsed laser irradiation. Results show that phase explosion is the main mechanism for material removal at high fluences, leading to explosively decomposed into a two-phase mixture of liquid and vapor. As fluence increases, the proportion of vapor component rises, while amorphization becomes dominate near the damage threshold fluences. This work reveals the atomic dynamics of GaAs under varying laser fluences, offering valuable insights for laser processing towards to the atomic and close-to-atomic scale.

Threshold of Surface Initiator Concentration for Polymer Brush Growth by Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.

The surface modification of various materials by grafting functional molecules has attracted much attention from fundamental research to practical applications because of its ability to impart various physical and chemical properties to the surfaces. One promising approach is the use of polymer brushes synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from surface-tethered initiators (SIs). In this study, for the purpose of controlling the grafting amounts/densities of polymer brushes, we developed a facile method to precisely regulate SI concentrations of SI layers (SILs) by serial dilution based on a sol-gel method. By simply mixing organosilanes terminated with and without an initiator group ((p-chloromethyl) phenyltrimethoxysilane (CMPTMS) and phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS), respectively) with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), SI concentrations of SILs could be arbitrarily tuned precisely by varying dilution factors of (CMPTMS + PTMS)/CMPTMS (DFs, 1-107). The resulting SILs prepared at different DFs were highly smooth and transparent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) also confirmed that the SIs were homogeneously distributed at the topmost surface of the SILs and their concentrations were proven to be accurately and precisely controlled from high to extremely low, comparable to theoretical values. Subsequent SI-ATRP in air ("paint-on" SI-ATRP) of two different types of monomers (hydrophobic/nonionic (2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene) and hydrophilic/ionic (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)) demonstrated that polymer brushes with different grafting amounts/densities were successfully grafted only from SILs with DFs of 1-104 (theoretical SI concentrations: 3.9 × 10-4 ∼ 3.5 units/nm2), while at DFs of 105 and above (theoretical SI concentrations: <3.9 × 10-5 units/nm2), no sign of polymer brush growth was confirmed by thickness, XPS, and water contact angle data. Therefore, we are the first to gather evidence that the approximate threshold of SI concentration required for "paint-on" SI-ATRP might be on the order of 10-4 ∼ 10-5 units/nm2.

Study of cell adhesion, osteogenesis, and angiogenesis of a “groove” structure micro-arc oxidation titanium

The use of titanium alloy-based dental implant restorations has gained popularity due to their attractive properties. Current research on the surface modification of titanium materials primarily centers around the surface integration of various metal ions, the incorporation of different drugs, or other materials. By simply adjusting the process parameters of micro-arc oxidation, we were able to form a “groove” structure in titanium chips. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that Bone Marrow Stem Cells (BMSCs) noticeably elongated along the “grooves”. Immunofluorescence results indicated an elevated expression of Osteocalcin (OCN) and CD31 in “groove” structure group. Furthermore, “groove” structure group also amplified the expression of osteogenic genes (Alkaline Phosphatase, ALP; Osteocalcin, OCN) and angiogenic genes (CD31, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, VEGF; Angiopoietin-2, ANG2; and Fibroblast Growth Factor, FGF) on the material surface (P < 0.05). This study suggests that the “groove” structure enhances early cell adhesion on the material surface and improves osteogenic and angiogenic differentiation on the titanium surface, thereby providing potential research implications for enhancing the initial stability of implants.

Surface modification of carbon-based materials using a double dielectric barrier discharge for efficient removal of OPFRs with different polarity

This article utilizes a double dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) technology to enhance the removal of five commonly found highly toxic organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) by modifying carbon-based materials. This study investigated the adsorption performance of carbon-based materials modified under various discharge times, frequencies, and voltage conditions on five different OPFRs. Before the modification, the adsorption amount of TPP was only 0.56 mg/g, but the modification significantly improved the adsorption effect of TPP to 14.8 mg/g. Furthermore, the overall adsorption amount of the flame retardants with five different polarities increased by 70.51 mg/g. The study also examined the adsorption kinetics and isotherms, the dosage effect, and the adsorption mechanism and reusability of the modified carbon materials for OPFRs. In the end, the study found that the optimal adsorption capacity for 5 types of OPFRs was achieved at a voltage frequency of 8 kHz, a voltage of 12 kV, and 15 min. The fitting kinetic and isotherm model determines that chemical adsorption is the main mechanism supplemented by physical adsorption, and Langmuir and Freundlich provide better fitting for the adsorption isotherms. The material exhibits a favorable pore structure, high adsorption capacity, and stable regenerative adsorption performance. The adsorption mechanism for OPFRs involves pore filling, hydrogen bonding, π - π conjugation, and strong electrostatic interaction. The optimal adsorption capacity is 109.81 mg/g. This study provides a new strategy for synthesizing activated carbon materials with broad polarity. The relative standard deviation of all experiments did not exceed 2.88 %.

Development of a highly sensitive aptamer-based electrochemical sensor for detecting saxitoxin based on K3Fe(CN)6 regulated silver nanoparticles

BackgroundSaxitoxin (STX) is the most toxic marine toxin, which can pose several adverse effects on human health. High sensitivity, fast response, and low-cost detection of STX contamination are of significance to reducing the fishery and seafood industries' loss. Among the various types of biosensors, the electrochemical biosensors have been extensively studied in the detection of STX, but the electrode surface modification material is easy to fall off, resulting in unstable electrochemical signals and poor reproducibility. It is imperative to have a ratiometric electrochemical biosensor for STX. ResultsIn this study, we developed a novel aptamer-based electrochemical sensor (AECs) for the sensitive detection of STX based on a K3Fe(CN)6 regulated silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) modified with aptamer. The AECs was constructed by immobilizing aptamer on Ag NPs surfaces. Under optimized conditions, the AECs showed a linear response towards STX in the range from 0.04 to 0.15 μM with the regression equation of Y = −8.0 + 233.7 X (R2 = 0.9956). The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 1 nM (based on 3 N/S), which is significantly lower than the regulatory limits for STX in seafood. Moreover, the AECs showed excellent sensitivity, reproducibility and stability, as well as the detection in samples with acceptable recovery ranged from 71.2 % to 93.8 %, demonstrating its broad application prospects in detection of STX in seafood samples. SignificanceThis work proposed an AECs to achieve sensitive detection of STX. A reaction system of K3Fe(CN)6 etched Ag NPs was introduced and used as the signal source to avoid the instability of the electrochemical signal, which can produce a ratiometric electrochemical signal output mode, improving the stability and sensitivity of electrochemical detection of STX.