CARS diagnostics of near-critical fluid in small mesopores

Due to the high spacial resolution and theinterference nature, coherent anti-Stokes Ramanscattering (CARS) spectroscopy is well suited forthe diagnostics of composites based on transparentnanoporous hosts. In particular, the adsorption of afluid on the walls of nanopores and the formation ofa condensed phase in their volume leads to obvioustransformation of the CARS spectra. Recently wehave developed a model which describes thebehavior of molecular spectra at isothermalcompression in cylindrical nanopores. Calculationsbased on the model have shown a good agreementwith the experimental results for carbon dioxide innanoporous glass with pores of diameter of severalnanometers. Here we use the developed approach toinvestigate the phase behavior of carbon dioxide inglass nanopores at near-critical temperatures. It hasbeen experimentally shown that condensation innanopores occurs at relatively low pressures atsubcritical and even at supercritical temperatures.The analysis based on the developed model allowsto reveal some qualitative and quantitativecharacterizations of the shift of critical point

One photon and two photon process in photo-decomposition of germanium oxygen deficient centres

UV photon-induced transformation of germanium oxygen deficient centres (GODC) in germanium-doped silica glass have been studied using photocurrent measurements, absorption and fluorescence bleaching. It has been identified that the photocurrent are generated via a two photon effect. Evidence have been found suggesting that the UV photon-induced destruction of GODCs is achieved via two reaction pathways, a single photon pathway and a two photon pathway. The process is discussed

Optical properties of Ge-oxygen defect center embedded in silica films

The photo-luminescence features of Ge-oxygen defect centers in a 100nm thick Ge-doped silica film on a pure silica substrate were investigated by looking at the emission spectra and time decay detected under synchrotron radiation excitation in the 10-300 K temperature range. This center exhibits two luminescence bands centered at 4.3eV and 3.2eV associated with its de-excitation from singlet (S1) and triplet (T1) states, respectively, that are linked by an intersystem crossing process. The comparison with results obtained from a bulk Ge-doped silica sample evidences that the efficiency of the intersystem crossing rate depends on the properties of the matrix embedding the Ge-oxygen defect centers, being more effective in the film than in the bulk counterpart.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, in press on J. Non cryst. solids (2007

Features of Polymeric Structures By Surface—Selective Laser Sintering of Polymer Particles Using Water as Sensitizer

The development of scaffolds with strictly specific properties is a key aspect of functional tissue regeneration, and it still remains one of the greatest challenges for tissue engineering. This study is aimed to determine the possibility of producing three-dimensional polylactide (PLA) scaffolds using the method of surface-selectiv  laser sintering (SSLS) for bone tissue regeneration. In this work, the authors also improved PLA scaffold adhesion properties, which are crucial for successful cellular growth and expansion. Thus, SSLS method proved to be effective in designing threedimensional porous scaffolds with differentiated mechanical properties. Keywords: regenerative medicine, scaffolds, polylactide, surface – selective laser . sintering, tissue engeneering

Laser Printing of Gel Microdrops with Living Cells and Microorganisms

We report the results of experiments on laser printing (wavelength λ=1064 nm) with gel microdrops acting as carriers of living microbial and cellular objects. The dynamics of transport processes with the help of high-speed optical video was studied, which allows to determine characteristics of the formed gel jets and to optimize the operating mode of the laser. It is shown that laser pulses of 4 to 20 ns duration and energy E ≤ 20 μJ should be used to minimize the negative effect on living systems. The results can be used to optimize the technologies of cellular printing and laser engineering of microbial systems (LEMS). LEMS technology is used to isolate hard-cultivated and non-cultivated by classical methods of microorganisms that can act as producers of new biologically active substances and antibiotics. Keywords: laser printing, gel, microdrop, living cell, microbia

Hydrogel-based microfluidics for vascular tissue engineering

In this work, we have explored 3-D co-culture of vasculogenic cells within a synthetically modified fibrin hydrogel. Fibrinogen was covalently linked with PEG-NHS in order to improve its degradability resistance and physico-optical properties. We have studied influences of the degree of protein PEGylation and the concentration of enzyme thrombin used for the gel preparation on cellular responses. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of prepared gels revealed that the degree of PEGylation and the concentration of thrombin strongly influenced microstructural characteristics of the protein hydrogel. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs), used as vasculogenic co-culture, could grow in 5:1 PEGylated fibrin gels prepared using 1:0.2 protein to thrombin ratio. This gel formulation supported hASCs and HUVECs spreading and the formation of cell extensions and cell-to-cell contacts. Expression of specific ECM proteins and vasculogenic process inherent cellular enzymatic activity were investigated by immunofluorescent staining, gelatin zymography, western blot and RT-PCR analysis. After evaluation of the optimal gel composition and PEGylation ratio, the hydrogel was utilized for investigation of vascular tube formation within a perfusable microfluidic system. The morphological development of this co-culture within a perfused hydrogel over 12 days led to the formation of interconnected HUVEC-hASC network. The demonstrated PEGylated fibrin microfluidic approach can be used for incorporating other cell types, thus representing a unique experimental platform for basic vascular tissue engineering and drug screening applications. © 2016 by De Gruyter

Influence of tetrafunctional polylactide morphology on regeneration of bone tissue defects

Определено влияние длины разветвленных цепей сшитых тетрафункциональных полилкатидов на микроморфологию поверхности. Оценены механические свойства структурированных скаффолдов в режиме PeakForce QNM (MultiMode 8, ruker, США). Подобран оптимальный по своим механическим и поверхностным характеристикам тип полилактидов для полной регенерации созданного костного дефекта ткани мышиThe influence of the length of branched chains of cross-linked tetrafunctional polyclatides on the surface micromorphology is determined. The mechanical properties of structured scaffolds are estimated in the PeakForce QNM mode (MultiMode 8, Bruker, USA). Optimal type of polylactide for its mechanical and surface characteristics was selected for complete regeneration of the created bone defect in mouse tissue