Optimization of a new Ni-free Ti alloy for applications in the implant field

Three new Ni-free Ti alloys, Ti-16.2Hf-24.8Nb-1Zr, Ti-5.2Hf-31.2Nb-0.4Zr and Ti-16Hf-36.2Nb-1Zr (wt%), were designed and produced in order to obtain shape memory and/or low elastic modulus materials in order to avoid stress shielding and to enhance bone regeneration in the load transfer implant field. The alloys were microstructurally and mechanically characterized, cytotoxicity was evaluated using MG63 osteoblast-like cells. The elastic modulus of the new alloys (between 67-90 GPa) are smaller than those of the commercial alloys employed for implantation. The lowest elastic modulus alloy, Ti-16.2Hf-24.8Nb-1Zr (wt %), with 67.5 GPa, was optimized by cold work in order to determine the key factor that promotes the desired shape memory properties and/or low elastic modulus. A higher proportion of martensite was observed by optical and electron transmission microscopy in the low cold work samples compared to the quenched alloy. The elastic modulus for each cold work condition was evaluated by nanoindentation tests using a spherical tip. The elastic modulus decreases when increasing the cold work level. The lowest value corresponds to the 99% cold work condition, with 44 GPa, closer to that of cortical bone and smaller than the quenched alloy (67.5 GPa).Tres nuevas aleaciones de Ti libres de Ni, Ti-16.2Hf-24.8Nb-1Zr, Ti-5.2Hf-31.2Nb-0.4Zr y Ti-16Hf-36.2Nb-1Zr, porcentajes en peso, fueron diseñadas y fabricadas con el fin de obtener memoria de forma y/o bajo módulo elástico con el objetivo de evitar el apantallamiento de cargas y mejorar la regeneración ósea en el campo de la implantología de transferencia de carga. Las aleaciones fueron caracterizadas microestructural y mecánicamente y la citotoxicidad fue evaluada utilizando osteoblastos MG63. El módulo elástico de las nuevas aleaciones (entre 67-90 GPa) es menor que el de las aleaciones comerciales utilizadas en implantología. El menor módulo elástico corresponde a la aleación Ti-16.2Hf-24.8Nb-1Zr, con 67.5 GPa y fue optimizado mediante trabajo en frío con el objetivo de determinar el factor responsable de la obtención de las propiedades deseadas de bajo módulo elástico y/o memoria de forma. Una mayor proporción de martensita fue observada por microscopía óptica y microscopía electrónica de transmisión en las muestras con bajo porcentaje de trabajo en frío en comparación con la muestra templada. El módulo elástico correspondiente a cada condición de trabajo en frío fue evaluado mediante nanoindentación con punta esférica. El módulo elástico disminuye al aumentar el porcentaje de trabajo en frío. El menor valor corresponde a la condición de 95% de trabajo en frío, con 44 GPa, valor cercano al del hueso cortical y menor que el del material templado (67.5 GPa).Peer Reviewe

Estudio de la biocompatibilidad de una nueva aleación beta-titanio de bajo módulo de elasticidad

Peer Reviewe

Accurate detection of uniparental disomy and microdeletions by SNP array analysis in myelodysplastic syndromes with normal cytogenetics.

Progress in the management of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has been hampered by the inability to detect cytogenetic abnormalities in 40-60% of cases. We prospectively analyzed matched pairs of bone marrow and buccal cell (normal) DNA samples from 51 MDS patients by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, and identified somatically acquired clonal genomic abnormalities in 21 patients (41%). Among the 33 patients with normal bone marrow cell karyotypes, 5 (15%) had clonal, somatically acquired aberrations by SNP array analysis, including 4 with segmental uniparental disomies (UPD) and 1 with three separate microdeletions. Each abnormality was detected more readily in CD34+ cells than in unselected bone marrow cells. Paired analysis of bone marrow and buccal cell DNA from each patient was necessary to distinguish true clonal genomic abnormalities from inherited copy number variations and regions with apparent loss of heterozygosity. UPDs affecting chromosome 7q were identified in two patients who had a rapidly deteriorating clinical course despite a low-risk International Prognostic Scoring System score. Further studies of larger numbers of patients will be needed to determine whether 7q UPD detected by SNP array analysis will identify higher risk MDS patients at diagnosis, analogous to those with 7q cytogenetic abnormalities

Evaluating deformation behavior of a TBC-System during thermal gradient mechanical fatigue by means of high energy X-ray diffraction

Applications of TBC-systems involve complex thermal mechanical loading pattern including transient thermal gradients across the coated system, which result in multiaxial stresses and stress gradients affecting the damage behavior. In an ongoing research, starting more than 10 years ago, the authors developed laboratory test facilities for evaluating the damage behavior of TBC-systems for gas turbine blades in aeroengines under realistic thermal mechanical loading conditions [1]. Fatigue tests involving thermal gradients have been conducted and damage behavior in dependence of load pattern and pre heat treatment has been intensively investigated on TBC-systems comprising a partially yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) topcoat and a MCrAlY bond coat both applied by electron physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) onto nickel based super alloys serving as substrate [2]. Numerical analyses by means of FE-calculations did provide hypotheses explaining the observed damage behavior [3], but even though the results are plausible they did depend on reasonable assumptions on materials properties since reliable data on the properties of the thin coating layers are still lacking, especially for high temperatures. High energy X-ray diffraction can provide the requested information since it is possible to achieve information on the local deformation processes in each layer with high spatial resolution, and short acquisition times allow for in situ investigation of time dependent deformation processes. A new test facility based on concepts after [1] for cyclic thermal loading of tubular specimens and applying a controlled thermal gradient across the coated specimen’s wall has been developed for implementation into an electro-mechanical test machine at the advanced photon source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory. A precision positioning rig allows for exact µm-positioning of the entire test machine with respect to the focused X-ray beam, and X-ray diffraction patterns were taken using a 2D detector, giving accurate 360° lattice parameter data [4]. Tests have been performed with varying thermal and mechanical load schemata intending to determine material properties from the respective strain response. The beam energy was 65 keV, and throughout all experiments the beam scanned through the coating layers with a window and step size of 30 µm. Strain data were acquired in plane parallel to the specimen’s length axis and out of plane. Results of the strain data evaluation will be presented and discussed. Exemplary results are: - Elastic properties of the YSZ showed a gradient across the coating thickness reflecting the microstructure gradient of the YSZ resulting from the EB-PVD process. - The YSZ strain was – below the deposition temperature - in plane compressive and out of plane tensile, which is a consequence of (i) the higher thermal expansion coefficient of YSZ with respect to the substrate and (ii) the cylindrical specimen geometry with the YSZ at the outer surface. [1] M. Bartsch, G. Marci, K. Mull, C. Sick, Adv. Eng. Mater. (1999), 1(2), 127–9 [2] M. Bartsch, B. Baufeld, S. Dalkilic, L. Chernova, M. Heinzelmann, Int. J. Fatigue (2008) 30, 211–8 [3] M. T. Hernandez, A. M. Karlsson, M. Bartsch, Surf. Coat. Technol. (2009) 203, 3549–58 [4] S.F. Siddiqui, K. Knipe, A. Manero, C. Meid, J. Wischek, J. Okasinski, J. Almer, A.M. Karlsson, M. Bartsch, S. Raghavan, Review of Scientific Instruments (2013) 84, 08390

Effect of ionic strength on rheological behavior of polymer-like cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate micellar solutions

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.The influence of ionic strength on the rheological properties of polymer-like aqueous micellar solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate (CTAT) containing different salts (KCl, KBr, (COONa)2, K2SO4 or K3PO4) is investigated. The rheological behavior of the solutions is analyzed above the concentration where a micellar entanglement network is formed, varying surfactant and salt concentration, salt counterion valency and temperature. A master curve of the linear viscoelastic properties is obtained by multiple superposition of time, temperature, salt type, and surfactant and salt concentration. Application of the existent kinetic theory provides information suggesting that the micellar solutions are in the fast breaking regime (i.e., the relaxation is kinetically controlled) regardless of salt type and concentration. Moreover, these solutions exhibit shear-banding flow with a reduced stress plateau (σ/G0, being σ and G0 the shear stress and the plateau modulus, respectively) that increases with salt content and counterion valency. The zero-shear viscosity (η0) and the main relaxation time (τC) diminish with increasing salt content according to a step-like function, in which the number of steps increases with the salt counterion valence. In contrast, G0 only increases slightly with increasing salt content for the five salts employed. These results are discussed in terms of ionic strength and screening of the electrostatic-interactions caused by the addition of salt. In addition, it was found that the influence of anions on the viscoelastic properties of the polymer-like micelles follows the Hofmeister series commonly encountered in macromolecular and biological systems. This finding opens a challenge for scientists in the experimental and theoretical fields

Improving Mechanical Properties and Reaction to Fire of EVA/LLDPE Blends for Cable Applications with Melamine Triazine and Bentonite Clay

The high flame-retardant loading required for ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer blends with polyethylene (EVA-PE) employed for insulation and sheathing of electric cables represents a significant limitation in processability and final mechanical properties. In this work, melamine triazine (TRZ) and modified bentonite clay have been investigated in combination with aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) for the production of EVA-PE composites with excellent fire safety and improved mechanical properties. Optimized formulations with only 120 parts per hundred resin (phr) of ATH can achieve self-extinguishing behavior according to the UL94 classification (V0 rating), as well as reduced combustion kinetics and smoke production. Mechanical property evaluation shows reduced stiffness and improved elongation at break with respect to commonly employed EVA-PE/ATH composites. The reduction in filler content also provides improved processability and cost reductions. The results presented here allow for a viable and halogen-free strategy for the preparation of high performing EVA-PE composites

Cartilage Appearance Using an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope.

Because of technical principles, samples to be observed with electron microscopy need to be fixed in a chemical process and exposed to vacuum conditions that can produce some changes in the morphology of the specimen. The aim of this work was to obtain high-resolution images of the fresh articular cartilage surface with an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), which is an instrument that permits examination of biological specimens without fixation methods in a 10 Torr chamber pressure, thus minimizing the risk of creating artifacts in the structure. Samples from weight-bearing areas of femoral condyles of New Zealand white rabbits were collected and photographed using an ESEM. Images were analyzed using a categorization based in the Jurvelin classification system modified by Hong and Henderson. Appearance of the observed elevations and depressions as described in the classification were observed, but no fractures or splits of cartilage surface, thought to be artifacts, were detected. The ESEM is a useful tool to obtain images of fresh articular cartilage surface appearance without either employing fixation methods or exposing the specimen to extreme vacuum conditions, reducing the risk of introducing artifacts within the specimen. For all these reasons it could become a useful tool for quality control of the preservation process of osteochondral allografting in a bank of musculoskeletal tissues

Prognostic model for early acute rejection after liver transplantation

Hepatic graft rejection is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT), with a maximum incidence within the first weeks. The identification of high-risk patients for early acute rejection (EAR) might be useful for clinicians. A series of 133 liver graft recipients treated with calcineurin inhibitors was retrospectively assessed to identify predisposing factors for EAR and develop a mathematical model to predict the individual risk of each patient. The incidence of EAR (< or =45 days after LT) was 35.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that recipient age, underlying liver disease, and Child's class before LT were independently associated with the development of EAR. Combining these 3 variables, the following risk score for the development of EAR was obtained: EAR score [F(x)] = 2.44 + (1.14 x hepatitis C virus cirrhosis) + (2.78 x immunologic cirrhosis) + (2.51 x metabolic cirrhosis)--(0.08 x recipient age in years) + (1.65 x Child's class A) [corrected]. Risk for rejection = e(F(x))/1 + e(F(x)). The combination of age, cause of liver disease, and Child's class may allow us to predict the risk for EAR

Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Focus on Novel Therapeutic Strategies

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease with variable clinical outcomes. Cytogenetic analysis reveals which patients may have favorable risk disease, but 5-year survival in this category is only approximately 60%, with intermediate and poor risk groups faring far worse. Advances in our understanding of the biology of leukemia pathogenesis and prognosis have not been matched with clinical improvements. Unsatisfactory outcomes persist for the majority of patients with AML, particularly the elderly. Novel agents and treatment approaches are needed in the induction, post-remission and relapsed settings. The additions of clofarabine for relapsed or refractory disease and the hypomethylating agents represent recent advances. Clinical trials of FLT3 inhibitors have yielded disappointing results to date, with ongoing collaborations attempting to identify the optimal role for these agents. Potential leukemia stem cell targeted therapies and treatments in the setting of minimal residual disease are also under investigation. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in AML treatment and novel therapeutic strategies