Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, its genesis and progression are caused by homeostatic errors, and reactive oxygen species play a major role in promoting aberrant cancer homeostasis. In this scenario, curcumin could be an... more
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, its genesis and progression are caused by homeostatic errors, and reactive oxygen species play a major role in promoting aberrant cancer homeostasis. In this scenario, curcumin could be an interesting candidate due to its versatile antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-HIV, and anti-infection properties. Nonetheless, the major problem related to its use is its poor oral bioavailability, which can be overcome by encapsulating it into small particles, such as hydrogel beads containing mesoporous silica. In this work, various systems have been synthesized: starting from mesoporous silica glasses (MGs), cerium-containing MGs have been produced; then, these systems have been loaded with 4 to 6% of curcumin. Finally, various MGs at different compositions have been included in alginate beads. In vitro studies showed that these hybrid materials enable the stabilization and effective delivery of curcumin and that a synergic effect can ...
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The glass composition Na2O\u2022CaO\u20222SiO2 was modified upon addition of ZnO to obtain the series of glasses Na2O\u2022CaO\u2022(2-x)SiO2\u2022xZnO (x=0.15 and 0.19), where x= 0.19 is the maximum zinc content which does not produce... more
The glass composition Na2O\u2022CaO\u20222SiO2 was modified upon addition of ZnO to obtain the series of glasses Na2O\u2022CaO\u2022(2-x)SiO2\u2022xZnO (x=0.15 and 0.19), where x= 0.19 is the maximum zinc content which does not produce phase separation. The glasses were investigated by means of density and thermal measurements (glass transition, Tg, and crystallisation, Tc, temperature); moreover the phases separated upon crystallisation were identified. The results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with the analysis of the crystal structure of the main phases separated [(Na4Ca4(SiO3)6 and Na2ZnSiO4)] provide insight into the structural role of zinc in the glass network, its limits of solubility and its effect on the short- and medium-range order of the glass structure
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Research Interests: Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Hydroxyapatite, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Waste Management, and 14 moreMedicine, Nuclear Chemistry, Adsorption, Sorption, Cadmium, Ion, X ray diffraction, Removal, Environmental Pollutants, Durapatite, Biocompatible Materials, Molar Ratio, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, and Ions
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Research Interests: Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Glass, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and 11 moreCrystallization, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Medicine, Molecular Dynamics, Physical sciences, Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, X ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscope, Bioactive Glasses, and Magic Angle Spinning
The crystallization kinetics of Na(2)O.CaO.2SiO(2) (x = 0) and 0.68ZnO.Na(2)O.CaO.2SiO(2) (x = 0.68, where x is the ZnO stoichiometric coefficient in the glass formula) bioactive glasses have been studied using both nonisothermal and... more
The crystallization kinetics of Na(2)O.CaO.2SiO(2) (x = 0) and 0.68ZnO.Na(2)O.CaO.2SiO(2) (x = 0.68, where x is the ZnO stoichiometric coefficient in the glass formula) bioactive glasses have been studied using both nonisothermal and isothermal methods. The results obtained from isothermal XRPD analyses have showed that the first glass crystallizes into the isochemical Na(2)CaSi(2)O(6) phase, whereas the Na(2)ZnSiO(4) crystalline phase is obtained from the Zn-rich glass, in addition to Na(2)CaSi(2)O(6). The activation energy (Ea) for the crystallization of the Na(2)O.CaO.2SiO(2) glass is 193 +/- 10 and 203 +/- 5 kJ/mol from the isothermal in situ XRPD and nonisothermal DSC experiments, respectively. The Avrami exponent n determined from the isothermal method is 1 at low temperature (530 degrees C), and its value increases linearly with temperature increase up to 2 at 607 degrees C. For the crystallization of Na(2)CaSi(2)O(6) from the Zn-containing glass, higher values of both the crystallization temperature (667 and 661 degrees C) and Ea (223 +/- 10 and 211 +/- 5 kJ/mol) have been found from the isothermal and nonisothermal methods, respectively. The Na(2)ZnSiO(4) crystalline phase crystallizes at lower temperature with respect to Na(2)CaSi(2)O(6), and the Ea value is 266 +/- 20 and 245 +/- 15 kJ/mol from the isothermal and nonisothermal methods, respectively. The results of this work show that the addition of Zn favors the crystallization from the glass at lower temperature with respect to the Zn-free glass. In fact, it causes an increase of Ea for the Na diffusion process, determined using MD simulations, and consequently an overall increase of Ea for the crystallization process of Na(2)CaSi(2)O(6). Our results show good agreement between the Ea and n values obtained with the two different methods and confirm the reliability of the nonisothermal method applied to kinetic crystallization of glassy systems. This study allows the determination of the temperature stability field of the crystalline phases with the view of creating a different glass ceramic useful in the field of bioactive materials.
Research Interests: Chemistry, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Kinetics, Glass, Crystallization, and 15 moreMedicine, Temperature, Activation Energy, The, Phase Change, Differential Thermal Analysis, Surface Properties, Stoichiometry, Bioactive Glass, THEORETICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Oxides, Crystallization Kinetics, Calcium Compounds, Silicon Dioxide, and Sodium Compounds
Bioactive glasses containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been synthesized via the sol-gel route using HAuCl(4) x 3 H(2)O as gold precursor. The formation process of AuNPs was studied as a function of the thermal treatment, which... more
Bioactive glasses containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been synthesized via the sol-gel route using HAuCl(4) x 3 H(2)O as gold precursor. The formation process of AuNPs was studied as a function of the thermal treatment, which induces nucleation of Au particles and influences their nature, optical properties, shape, size, and distribution. The physicochemical characterization indicates that the sample treated at 600 degrees C presents the best characteristics to be used as a bioactive material, namely high surface area, high amount of AuNPs located at the glass surface, presence of micropores, and abundant surface OH groups. In the case of samples either aged at 60 degrees C or calcined at 150 degrees C, AuNPs just begin their formation, and at this stage the gel is not completely polymerized and dried yet. A thermal treatment at higher temperatures (900 degrees C) causes the aggregation of AuNPs, forming "AuMPs" (i.e., Au microparticles) in a densified glass-ceramic material with low surface area, absence of pores, and low number of surface OH groups. These features induce in the glass-ceramic materials treated at high-temperatures a lower bioactivity (evidenced by SBF reaction), as compared with that exhibited by the glass samples treated at 600 degrees C.
Research Interests: Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Glass, Nanoparticle, Heat Treatment, and 15 moreMedicine, Multidisciplinary, Metal Nanoparticles, DISTRIBUTION, Gold, Gold Nanoparticles, Nucleation, Ceramic, Calcination, Bioactive Glass, Distribution, Langmuir, Bioactive Glasses, Colloidal Gold, and Molecular Structure
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The results of preparation, characterization and in vitro bioactivity evaluation of phosphosilicate glasses based on Bioglass® 45S5 (SiO2 45; Na2O 24.5; CaO 24.5; P2O5 6 wt%) doped during melting with (1.5–13.5 wt%) cerium dioxide (CeO2),... more
The results of preparation, characterization and in vitro bioactivity evaluation of phosphosilicate glasses based on Bioglass® 45S5 (SiO2 45; Na2O 24.5; CaO 24.5; P2O5 6 wt%) doped during melting with (1.5–13.5 wt%) cerium dioxide (CeO2), has been reported. The choice of cerium was related to its low toxicity associated with bacteriostatic properties; cerium-doped bioactive glasses could be useful when implantation
Research Interests: Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Hydroxyapatite, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Doping, and 13 moreSynthesis, In Vitro, Glasses, Non crystalline solids, Powder X-Ray Diffraction, Optical physics, Calcium Phosphate, Cerium, Bioactive Glass, Bioactivity, Simulated Body Fluid, P/BV Ratio, and X ray powder diffraction
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Research Interests: Engineering, Thermodynamics, Chemistry, Medicine, Adsorption, and 15 morePhysical sciences, Temperature, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Surface Properties, Phosphates, Interaction model, Langmuir, Kaolin, Thermodynamic Parameters, Aqueous Solution, Thermodynamic Parameter, Kaolinite, Volume Fraction, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, and Adsorption isotherm
Potentially bioactive fluorine-containing glasses of formula 46.2SiO(2)·24.3Na(2)O·(26.9-x)CaO·2.6P(2)O(5)·xCaF(2) [x = (0), 5, 10, 15] have been studied: the study was carried out as a function of fluorine percentage, dimensions and time... more
Potentially bioactive fluorine-containing glasses of formula 46.2SiO(2)·24.3Na(2)O·(26.9-x)CaO·2.6P(2)O(5)·xCaF(2) [x = (0), 5, 10, 15] have been studied: the study was carried out as a function of fluorine percentage, dimensions and time of soaking in SBF. The results are compared to those obtained in the same conditions for Bioglass(®) 45S5. Due to the high number and different kind of variables/conditions explored by this set of data, the results are rationalized for the first time by means of multivariate data analysis (MDA); in this way it is possible to classify the behaviour of bioglasses toward bioactivity. The presence of fluorine does not inhibit the formation of HA; in particular, for a fast bioactivity (in term of HA crystallization) it will be better to have large particle size or slabs, while for a fast dissolution fine particle sizes should be preferred.
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The performance of the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to obtain the structure of silica glasses containing different concentrations of alkali oxides has been tested. An optimal MD simulation procedure (including cooling cycle, MD... more
The performance of the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to obtain the structure of silica glasses containing different concentrations of alkali oxides has been tested. An optimal MD simulation procedure (including cooling cycle, MD constants and ensemble used) has been developed by means of experimental design methodologies (DOE), firstly restricting the study to the 30% Na2O silica glass, for which experimental data are available to allow the comparison of the results. The optimization procedure led to simulations that well predict experimental density and short-range structure of glasses with different sodium content. On the contrary, the medium-range structure has been badly reproduced and it was not possible to determine a reliable correlation with the parameters of the simulation procedures used. Therefore, the correlation of medium-range properties with the structure has been studied by means of the PLS methods. The results showed to be useful to highlight the relationships among structural elements, such as radial distribution functions of specific bonds and angles, and Qn species, suggesting possible directions for force fields improvements.
Research Interests: Materials Engineering, Condensed Matter Physics, Chemistry, Computational Materials Science, Design of Experiments, and 15 moreExperimental Design, Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Molecular Dynamics, Silica, Design of experiment, Silicate Glass, Sodium, Silicate, Radial Distribution Function, Experimental Data, MD Simulation, Force Field Analysis, Molecular Dynamic Simulation, Sodium Silicate, and Molecular dynamic
The adsorption of malachite green (MG) on sodium-exchanged kaolinite and on the same clay treated with two widely used deflocculants, sodium hexametaphosphate (NaHMP) and sodium disilicate (NaDIS), was investigated. The results indicate... more
The adsorption of malachite green (MG) on sodium-exchanged kaolinite and on the same clay treated with two widely used deflocculants, sodium hexametaphosphate (NaHMP) and sodium disilicate (NaDIS), was investigated. The results indicate that the deflocculants affect the adsorption process. In particular, DIS treatment increases physisorption, whereas HMP treatment almost completely prevents it. The Frumkin isotherm accurately describes MG adsorption for
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Research Interests: Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Molecular Dynamics Simulations, and 10 moreMolecular Dynamics, Strain Rate, Silica, Composite Material, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, CRYSTALLINE AND AMORPHOUS MATERIALS, Stress (Linguistics), Molecular Dynamic Simulation, Ultimate Tensile Strength, and Molecular dynamic
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... Page 1 of 39 Accepted Manuscript 1 On the dissolution/reaction of small-grain Bioglass 45S5 and F-modified bioactive glasses in artificial saliva (AS) Valentina Aina 1 , Luca Bertinetti 1 , Giuseppina Cerrato 1 , Marta Cerruti 2 ,... more
... Page 1 of 39 Accepted Manuscript 1 On the dissolution/reaction of small-grain Bioglass 45S5 and F-modified bioactive glasses in artificial saliva (AS) Valentina Aina 1 , Luca Bertinetti 1 , Giuseppina Cerrato 1 , Marta Cerruti 2 , Gigliola Lusvardi 3 ... [32] JT Stubbs, Generation and ...
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The aim of this work was to study the behaviour of zinc-doped phosphosilicate glasses based on Bioglass 45S5. In vitro (in simulated body fluid), the reactivity was analysed by means of inductively coupled plasma spectrometry,... more
The aim of this work was to study the behaviour of zinc-doped phosphosilicate glasses based on Bioglass 45S5. In vitro (in simulated body fluid), the reactivity was analysed by means of inductively coupled plasma spectrometry, environmental scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy (ESEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction. In vivo (a rat implanted with glass), the reactivity and the tissue behaviour were analysed by conventional histology, histochemistry, microradiography and ESEM-EDS. The in vivo behaviour matches that in vitro perfectly; they show comparable glass degradation processes and rates, ruled by the amount of zinc in the glass. The reaction mechanism for the formation of a polymerized silica layer superimposed with a peripheral calcium phosphate layer is clearly substantiated by ESEM-EDS investigations. The crystallization of a biologically active hydroxyapatite (HA) layer is observed in both cases; the in vitro experiment shows the presence of HA after 4 days.
Research Interests: Dentistry, Hydroxyapatite, Glass, Crystallization, Biodegradation, and 15 moreAnimals, Calcium Phosphates, ESEM, Apatite, Biomaterial, In Vivo, Calcium Phosphate, Bioactive Glass, Biological activity, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, Durapatite, Bioactive Glasses, Energy Dispersive X Ray Spectroscopy, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, and In Vitro Techniques
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The results of preparation, characterization and in vitro bioactivity evaluation of phosphosilicate glasses based on Bioglass® 45S5 (SiO2 45; Na2O 24.5; CaO 24.5; P2O5 6 wt%) doped during melting with (1.5–13.5 wt%) cerium dioxide (CeO2),... more
The results of preparation, characterization and in vitro bioactivity evaluation of phosphosilicate glasses based on Bioglass® 45S5 (SiO2 45; Na2O 24.5; CaO 24.5; P2O5 6 wt%) doped during melting with (1.5–13.5 wt%) cerium dioxide (CeO2), has been reported. The choice of cerium was related to its low toxicity associated with bacteriostatic properties; cerium-doped bioactive glasses could be useful when implantation