Modification of the zirconia ceramics by different calcium phosphate coatings:comparative study

The aim of this study was to characterize different calcium phosphate coatings and evaluate in vitro cell response of these materials to ceramics implants. The physical and chemical properties of calcium phosphate coatings formed by RF-magnetron sputtering of calcium phosphate tribasic, hydroxyapatite, calcium phosphate monobasic, calcium phosphate dibasic dihydrate and calcium pyrophosphate powders were characterized. Cell adhesion and cell viability were examined on calcium phosphate coatings using mesenchymal stem cells. The results of cytotoxicity measurements of the calcium phosphate coatings revealed that only the coating obtained by RF-magnetron sputtering of the calcium phosphate dibasic dihydrate and calcium phosphate tribasic powders possessed lower cell viability than the zirconia substrate. The coating formed by sputtering of the calcium phosphate tribasic powder demonstrated more cells adhered onto its surface compared with other calcium phosphate coatings

Fabrication and properties of L-arginine-doped PCL electrospun composite scaffolds

The article describes fabrication and properties of composite fibrous scaffolds obtained by electrospinning of the solution of poly({\epsilon}-caprolactone) and arginine in common solvent. The influence of arginine content on structure, mechanical, surface and biological properties of the scaffolds was investigated. It was found that with an increase of arginine concentration diameter of the scaffold fibers was reduced, which was accompanied by an increase of scaffold strength and Young modulus. It was demonstrated that porosity and water contact angle of the scaffold are independent from arginine content. The best cell adhesion and viability was shown on scaffolds with arginine concentration from 0.5 to 1 % wt

Immunological assessment of plant-derived avian flu H5/HA1 variants.

Polypeptide variants of the HA1 antigenic domain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule were produced in plants using transient and stable expression systems and fused with His/c-myc tags or with mouse or human Fc antibody fragments. The resulting peptides were purified and used for intramuscular immunization of mice. While the recombinant HA1 variants induced a significant serum humoral immune response in the mice, none of the HA1 preparations induced virus-neutralizing antibodies. Fusion with the Fc fragment improved overall yield of the constructs and allowed purification requiring only a single step, but led to no detectable fusion-related enhancement of immunogenicity or quality of immune response