5 research outputs found
Environmentally Friendly Engineering and Three-Dimensional Printing of TiO<sub>2</sub> Hierarchical Mesoporous Cellular Architectures
Three-dimensional
(3D) printing of hierarchically ordered cellular
materials with tunable microstructures is a major challenge from both
synthesis and scalable manufacturing perspectives. A simple, environmentally
friendly, and scalable concept to realize morphologically and microstructurally
engineered cellular ceramics is herein demonstrated by combining direct
foam writing with colloidal processing. These cellular structures
are widely applicable across multiple technological fields including
energy harvesting, waste management/water purification, and biomedicine.
Our concept marries sacrificial templating with direct foaming to
synthesize multiscale porous TiO<sub>2</sub> foams that can be 3D
printed into planar, free-standing, and spanning hierarchical structures.
The latter being reported for the first time. We show how by varying
the foam-inks’ composition and frothing conditions, the rheological
properties and foam configurations (i.e., open- or closed-cell) are
tuned. Furthermore, our printing studies indicate a synergy between
intermediate extrusion pressures and low speeds for realizing spanning
features. Additionally, the dimensional changes associated with the
postprocessing of the different foam configurations are discussed.
We investigate the effects of the foams’ composition on their
microstructure and surface area properties. Additionally, the foams’
photocatalytic performance is correlated with their microstructure,
improving for open-cell architectures. The proposed synthesis and
scalable manufacturing method can be extended to fabricate similar
structures from alternative ceramic foam systems, where control of
the porosity and surface properties is crucial, demonstrating the
great potential of our synthesis approach
Direct Writing of a Titania Foam in Microgravity for Photocatalytic Applications
This work explores the potential for additive manufacturing
to
be used to fabricate ultraviolet light-blocking or photocatalytic
materials with in situ resource utilization, using a titania foam
as a model system. Direct foam writing was used to deposit titania-based
foam lines in microgravity using parabolic flight. The wet foam was
based on titania primary particles and a titania precursor (Ti (IV)
bis(ammonium lactato) dihydroxide). Lines were also printed in Earth
gravity and their resulting properties were compared with regard to
average cross-sectional area, height, and width. The cross-sectional
height was found to be higher when printing at low speeds in microgravity
compared to Earth gravity, but lower when printing at high speeds
in microgravity compared to Earth gravity. It was also observed that
volumetric flow rate was generally higher when writing in Earth gravity
compared to microgravity. Additionally, heterogeneous photocatalytic
degradation of methylene blue was studied to characterize the foams
for water purification and was found to generally increase as the
foam heat treatment temperature increased. Optical and scanning electron
microscopies were used to observe foam morphology. X-ray diffraction
spectroscopy was used to study the change in crystallinity with respect
to temperature. Contact angle of water was found to increase on the
surface of the foam as ultraviolet light exposure time increased.
Additionally, the foam blocked more ultraviolet light over time when
exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Finally, bubble coarsening measurements
were taken to observe bubble radius growth over time
Early Assessment and Correlations of Nanoclay’s Toxicity to Their Physical and Chemical Properties
Nanoclays’ functionalization
with organic modifiers increases
their individual barrier properties, thermal stability, and mechanical
properties and allows for ease of implementation in food packaging
materials or medical devices. Previous reports have shown that, while
organic modifiers integration between the layered mineral silicates
leads to nanoclays with different degrees of hydrophobicity that become
easily miscible in polymers, they could also pose possible effects
at inhalation or ingestion routes of exposure. Through a systematic
analysis of three organically modified and one pristine nanoclay,
we aimed to relate for the first time the physical and chemical characteristics,
determined via microscopical and spectroscopical techniques, with
the potential of these nanoclays to induce deleterious effects in
in vitro cellular systems, i.e. in immortalized and primary human lung
epithelial cell lines. To derive information on how functionalization
could lead to toxicological profiles throughout nanoclays’
life cycle, both as-received and thermally degraded nanoclays were
evaluated. Our analysis showed that the organic modifiers chemical
composition influenced both the physical and chemical characteristics
of the nanoclays as well as their toxicity. Overall, when cells were exposed to nanoclays with
organic modifiers containing bioreactive groups, they displayed lower cellular
numbers as well more elongated cellular morphologies relative to the
pristine nanoclay and the nanoclay containing a modifier with long carbon
chains. Additionally, thermal degradation caused loss of the organic
modifiers as well as changes in size and shape of the nanoclays, which
led to changes in toxicity upon exposure to our model cellular systems. Our study provides insight into the synergistic
effects of chemical composition, size, and shape of the nanoclays
and their toxicological profiles in conditions that mimic exposure
in manufacturing and disposal environments, respectively, and can
help aid in safe-by-design manufacturing of nanoclays with user-controlled
functionalization and lower toxicity levels when food packaging applications
are considered
Short-Term Pulmonary Toxicity Assessment of Pre- and Post-incinerated Organomodified Nanoclay in Mice
Organomodified nanoclays
(ONCs) are increasingly used as filler
materials to improve nanocomposite strength, wettability, flammability,
and durability. However, pulmonary risks associated with exposure
along their chemical lifecycle are unknown. This study’s objective
was to compare pre- and post-incinerated forms of uncoated and organomodified
nanoclays for potential pulmonary inflammation, toxicity, and systemic
blood response. Mice were exposed <i>via</i> aspiration
to low (30 ÎĽg) and high (300 ÎĽg) doses of preincinerated
uncoated montmorillonite nanoclay (CloisNa), ONC (Clois30B), their
respective incinerated forms (I-CloisNa and I-Clois30B), and crystalline
silica (CS). Lung and blood tissues were collected at days 1, 7, and
28 to compare toxicity and inflammation indices. Well-dispersed CloisNa
caused a robust inflammatory response characterized by neutrophils,
macrophages, and particle-laden granulomas. Alternatively, Clois30B,
I-Clois30B, and CS high-dose exposures elicited a low grade, persistent
inflammatory response. High-dose Clois30B exposure exhibited moderate
increases in lung damage markers and a delayed macrophage recruitment
cytokine signature peaking at day 7 followed by a fibrotic tissue
signature at day 28, similar to CloisNa. I-CloisNa exhibited acute,
transient inflammation with quick recovery. Conversely, high-dose
I-Clois30B caused a weak initial inflammatory signal but showed comparable
pro-inflammatory signaling to CS at day 28. The data demonstrate that
ONC pulmonary toxicity and inflammatory potential relies on coating
presence and incineration status in that coated and incinerated nanoclay
exhibited less inflammation and granuloma formation than pristine
montmorillonite. High doses of both pre- and post-incinerated ONC,
with different surface morphologies, may harbor potential pulmonary
health hazards over long-term occupational exposures
Short-Term Pulmonary Toxicity Assessment of Pre- and Post-incinerated Organomodified Nanoclay in Mice
Organomodified nanoclays
(ONCs) are increasingly used as filler
materials to improve nanocomposite strength, wettability, flammability,
and durability. However, pulmonary risks associated with exposure
along their chemical lifecycle are unknown. This study’s objective
was to compare pre- and post-incinerated forms of uncoated and organomodified
nanoclays for potential pulmonary inflammation, toxicity, and systemic
blood response. Mice were exposed <i>via</i> aspiration
to low (30 ÎĽg) and high (300 ÎĽg) doses of preincinerated
uncoated montmorillonite nanoclay (CloisNa), ONC (Clois30B), their
respective incinerated forms (I-CloisNa and I-Clois30B), and crystalline
silica (CS). Lung and blood tissues were collected at days 1, 7, and
28 to compare toxicity and inflammation indices. Well-dispersed CloisNa
caused a robust inflammatory response characterized by neutrophils,
macrophages, and particle-laden granulomas. Alternatively, Clois30B,
I-Clois30B, and CS high-dose exposures elicited a low grade, persistent
inflammatory response. High-dose Clois30B exposure exhibited moderate
increases in lung damage markers and a delayed macrophage recruitment
cytokine signature peaking at day 7 followed by a fibrotic tissue
signature at day 28, similar to CloisNa. I-CloisNa exhibited acute,
transient inflammation with quick recovery. Conversely, high-dose
I-Clois30B caused a weak initial inflammatory signal but showed comparable
pro-inflammatory signaling to CS at day 28. The data demonstrate that
ONC pulmonary toxicity and inflammatory potential relies on coating
presence and incineration status in that coated and incinerated nanoclay
exhibited less inflammation and granuloma formation than pristine
montmorillonite. High doses of both pre- and post-incinerated ONC,
with different surface morphologies, may harbor potential pulmonary
health hazards over long-term occupational exposures