Etching of Ag nanoparticles triggered bidirectional regulation for electrochemiluminescence ratiometric immunoassay

A highly efficient ratiometric electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay was explored by bidirectionally regulating the ECL intensity of two luminophors. The immunoassay was conducted in a split-type mode consisting of an ECL detection procedure and a sandwich immunoreaction. The ECL detection was executed using a dual-disk glassy carbon electrode modified with two potential-resolved luminophors (g-C3N4-Ag and Ru-MOF-Ag nanocomposites), and the sandwich immunoreaction using glucose oxidase (GOx)-modified SiO2 nanospheres as labels was carried out in a 96-well plate. The Ag nanoparticles (NPs) acted as bifunctional units both for triggering the resonance energy transfer (RET) with g-C3N4 and for accelerating the electron transfer rate of the Ru-MOF-Ag ECL reaction. When the H2O2 catalyzed by GOx in the 96-well plate was transferred to the dual-disk glass carbon electrode, the doped Ag NPs in the two luminophors could be etched, thus destroying the RET between C3N4 and the accelerated reaction to Ru-MOF, resulting in an opposite trend in the ECL signal outputted from the dual disks. Using the ratio of the two signals for quantification, the constructed immunosensor for a model target, i.e. myoglobin, exhibited a low detection limit of 4.7 × 10-14 g/mL. The ingenious combination of ECL ratiometry, bifunctional Ag NPs, and a split-type strategy effectively reduces environmental and human errors, offering a more precise and sensitive analysis for complex samples.

Step-by-Step Nanoscale Top-Down Blocking and Etching Lead to Nanohexapods with Cartesian Geometry

In this research, we designed a stepwise synthetic method for Au@Pt hexapods where six elongated Au pods are arranged in a pairwise perpendicular fashion, sharing a common point (the central origin in a Cartesian-coordinate-like hexapod shape), featured with tip-selectively decorated Pt square nanoplates. Au@Pt hexapods were successfully synthesized by applying three distinctive chemical reactions in a stepwise manner. The Pt adatoms formed discontinuous thin nanoplates that selectively covered six concave facets of a Au truncated octahedron and served as etching masks in the succeeding etching process, which prevented underlying Au atoms from being oxidized. The subsequent isotropic etching proceeded radially, starting from the bare Au surface, carving the central nanocrystal in a concave manner. By controlling the etching conditions, Au@Pt hexapods were successfully fabricated, wherein the core Au domain is connected to six protruding arms, which hold Pt nanoplates at the ends. Due to their morphology, Au@Pt hexapods feature distinctive optical properties in the near-infrared region, as a proof of concept, allowing for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based monitoring of in situ CO electrooxidation. We further extended our synthetic library by tailoring the size of the Pt nanoplates and neck widths of Au branches, demonstrating the validity of selective blocking and etching-based colloidal synthesis.

The effect of the use of the deproteinization agent hypochlorous acid and two different pit and fissure sealant self-adhesive flowable composites upon its bonding with the enamel

This study evaluates the effect of the deproteinization agents hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite upon the bonding of the two different pit and fissure sealant, self-adhesive flowable composites with the enamel. Thirty-six third molars were randomly divided into six different groups. The groups were formed as follows: Group 1: 37% phosphoric acid + VertiseTM Flow; Group 2: 200 ppm hypochlorous acid + 37% phosphoric acid VertiseTM Flow; Group 3: 5.25% sodium hypochlorite + 37% phosphoric acid + VertiseTM Flow; Group 4: 37% phosphoric acid + Constic; Group 5: 200 ppm hypochlorous acid + 37% phosphoric acid + Constic; Group 6: 5.25% sodium hypochlorite + 37% phosphoric acid + Constic. In each group, samples were obtained that were rectangular prisms in shape (n = 12). Groups to which a deproteinization agent was applied (Groups 2, 3 and 5, 6) showed statistically higher microtensile bonding strength than Group 1, Group 4. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of microtensile bonding strength values between the Groups 3 and the Group 6. The study found that the groups to which deproteinization agents were applied had statistically higher microtensile bonding strength values compared with those groups to which acid and fissure sealants were applied. In this study, it was concluded that the use of fissure-sealing self-adhesive flowable composites after acid application to permanent tooth enamel provides an acceptable bond strength given the limitations of in vitro studies. In line with the results obtained, it was observed that in addition to the removal of the inorganic structure with the application of acid, the removal of the organic structure with the use of deproteinization agent increased the bond strength to the enamel.

To etch or not to etch, Part III: On the hydrophobic-rich content and fatigue strength of universal adhesives after long-term ageing

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether dentin-etching extension and/or the hydrophobic-rich content of hybrid layers would affect fatigue strengths of a mild universal adhesive after long-term aging.

METHODS

Twin-bonded resin-dentin interfaces were produced by etching sound midcoronal dentin beams with 32 % ortho-phosphoric acid for 15 s (OPA15s), 3 s (OPA3s) or 10 % meta-phosphoric acid for 15 s (MPA15s). Samples were bonded with a mild universal adhesive with or without additional coating using a solvent-free bisGMA-based bonding resin. Self-etch application served as control. Composite buildups were made with a nanofilled composite. Bar-shaped twin-bonded interfaces (0.9 × 0.9 × 12 mm) were aged for two years in artificial saliva at 37 ℃ and tested under 4-point flexure at quasi-static (n = 16) and cyclic loads (n = 35) until failure. The stress-life fatigue behavior was evaluated using the staircase method at 4 Hz. Crack initiation and fracture patterns were evaluated by SEM. Cyclic-loaded data was analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis on Ranks (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

Significantly higher fatigue life distributions and higher endurance limits were observed for less aggressive etch-and-rinse protocols (OPA3s and MPA15s) after long-term ageing. Hydrophobic-rich coating produced 20-32 % higher endurance limits, prevented micrometer-sized porosities at bonded interfaces, reduced etching-associated variability and lowered crack formation. Significance Long-term hydrolysis produces detrimental effects on the fatigue strength of resin-dentin interfaces. The bond-promotion effect of less aggressive etch-and-rinse protocols and the creation of hybrid layers with higher hydrophobic-rich content are critical to extend the durability of mild universal adhesives. Therefore, current oversimplification trends in adhesive dentistry may limit resin-dentin bonding performance.

Controllable Carbon Felt Etching by Binary Nickel Bismuth Cluster for Vanadium-Manganese Redox Flow Batteries

Various redox couples have been reported to increase the energy density and reduce the price of redox flow batteries (RFBs). Among them, the vanadium electrolyte is mainly used due to its high solubility, but electrode modification is still necessary due to its low reversibility and sluggish kinetics. Also, an incompatible ion exchange membrane with redox-active species leads to self-discharge referred to as crossover. Here, we report a V/Mn RFB using an anion exchange membrane (AEM) for crossover mitigation and etched carbon felt by nickel-bismuth (NB-ECF) for the vanadium anolyte. The NB-ECF significantly enhances the reversibility and kinetics of the V2+/V3+ redox reaction, attributed to inhibited irreversible hydrogen evolution by the Bi catalyst and increased carboxyl groups by nickel (etching and NiO catalyst). Notably, the V/Mn cell employed in the NB-ECF maintains a high energy efficiency of 85.7% during 50 cycles without capacity degradation at a current density of 20 mA cm-2, which is attributed to a synergistic effect of crossover mitigation and facilitated V2+/V3+ redox reaction. This study demonstrates the novel electrocatalyst design of carbon felt using two metal species.

Direct synthesis of hydrogen fluoride-free multilayered Ti3C2/TiO2 composite and its applications in photocatalysis

Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids are environment-friendly and exhibit excellent photocatalytic and hydrogen-generating power characteristics. Herein, a novel single-step method is proposed for fabricating multilayer structures in which TiO2, generated from (NH4)2TiF6, wraps the Ti3C2 MXene by etching Ti3AlC2 with (NH4)2TiF6. The optimal reaction conditions for the etching of Ti3AlC2 with (NH4)2TiF6 were systematically studied. The phase composition, morphology, and photophysical properties of the Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids were investigated using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectrophotometry. The thermal stability of the hybrids was investigated using thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. Along with the formation of Ti3C2 MXene, Ti3AlC2 reacted with (NH4)2TiF6 at 60 °C for 24 h to form hybrids surrounded by NH4TiOF3 crystals. Subsequent reactions of these hybrids with H3BO3 resulted in the conversion of NH4TiOF3 crystals into TiO2 and eventually into Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of the Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids was measured by monitoring the photodegradation of methylene blue under ultraviolet light, which showed that the photocatalytic activity of the Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids was higher than that of the commercial anatase TiO2 nanoparticles.

Rapid and sensitive determination of ascorbic acid based on label-free silver triangular nanoplates

In this study, a new method for the detection of ascorbic acid (AA) was proposed. It was based on the protective effect of AA on silver triangular nanoplates (Ag TNPs) against Cl- induced etching reactions. Cl- can attack the corners of Ag TNPs and etch them, causing a morphological shift from triangular nanoplates to nanodiscs. As a result, the solution changes color from blue to yellow. However, in the presence of AA, the corners of Ag TNPs can be protected from Cl- etching, and the blue color of the solution remains unchanged. Using this effect, a selective sensor was designed to detect AA in the range of 0-40.00 μM with a detection limit of 2.17 μM. As the concentration of AA varies in this range, color changes from yellow to blue can be easily observed, so the designed sensor can be used for colorimetric detection. This method can be used to analyze fruit juice samples.

Boosting elimination of sunscreen, Tetrahydroxybenzophenone (BP-2), from water using monopersulfate activated by thorny NanoBox of Co@C prepared via the engineered etching strategy: A comparative and mechanistic investigation

As sunscreens, benzophenones (BPs), are regarded as emerging contaminants, most of studies are focused on removal of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BP-3), which, however, has been employed for protecting skin. Another major class of BPs, which is used to prevent UV-induce degradation in various products, is completely neglected. Thus, this present study aims to develop a useful advanced oxidation process (AOP) for the first time to eliminate such a class of BP sunscreens from contaminated water. Specifically, 2,2',4,4'-Tetrahydroxybenzophenone (BP-2) would be focused here as BP-2 is intensively used in perfumes, lipsticks, and plastics for preventing the UV-induced degradation. As monopersulfate (MPS)-based AOP is practical for degrading emerging contaminants, a facile nanostructured cobalt-based material is then developed for maximizing catalytic activities of MPS activation by immobilizing Co nanoparticles onto carbon substrates. In particular, ZIF-67 is employed as a template, followed by the etching and carbonization treatments to afford the thorny nanobox of Co@C (TNBCC) with the hollow-nanostructure. In comparison to the solid (non-hollow) nanocube of Co@C (NCCC) from the direct carbonization of ZIF-67, TNBCC possesses not only the excellent textural features, but also superior electrochemical properties and highly reactive surfaces, making TNBCC exhibit the significantly higher catalytic activity than NCCC as well as Co₃O₄ in activating MPS to degrade BP-2. Mechanisms of BP-2 degradation are also elucidated and ascribed to both radical and non-radical routes. These advantageous features make TNBCC a useful catalyst of activating MPS in BP-2 degradation.

Chrono-colorimetric sensor array for detection and discrimination of halide ions using an all-in-one plasmonic sensor element

Most nanoparticle based colorimetric sensor array utilize several sensor elements and static response for discrimination of target analytes. This approach can be complicated and costly to synthesize or functionalize different nanoparticles for providing wide color variation. Herein, triangular silver nanoparticles (TSNPs) were used to develop a colorimetric sensor array by time-dimension responses. The principle of this sensor array is based on the diverse etching process of TSNPs in the presence of three halide ions, including bromide (Br^-), iodide (I^-) and chloride (Cl^-). Various etchings of TSNPs induced color changes at different reaction time intervals, which produced a colorimetric pattern for each ion. Therefore, using time dependent etching responses of TSNPs as a single sensing component can produce a wide color variation which can be distinguished by naked eyes. The colorimetric responses of TSNPs upon the addition of different concentrations of halide ions have been analyzed by PLS regression (PLS-R) and PLS discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The analytical figures of merit confirmed that the developed chrono-colorimetric TSNPs -based sensor array is successful in both the discrimination and quantitative detection of halide ions. At the final step, the three halide ions were accurately determined in a real water sample, which verified the potential of the developed sensor in a real sample.

Colorimetric and visual determination of iodide ions via morphology transition of gold nanobipyramids

The gold nanobipyramids (Au NBPs) are widely used in the analytical detection of biochemistry due to their unique localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties. In our developed approach, I^- in kelp was detected by etching Au NBPs in the presence of IO₃^-. Under acidic conditions, IO₃^- reacted rapidly with I^- to form I₂, subsequently I₂ reacted with I^- to form the intermediate I₃^-. In the presence of CTAB, Au NBPs were etched by I₂ derived from I₃^-, resulting in a decrease in the aspect ratio of Au NBPs, to form a significant blue shift of LSPR longitudinal peak and color variation of colloid which changed from blue-green to magenta and could be employed to quantitatively detect the concentration of I^- with the naked eye. A linear relationship can be found between the LSPR peak changes with the I^- concentration in a wide range from 4.0 μM to 15.0 μM, and the sensitive limit of detection (LOD) was 0.2 μM for UV-vis spectroscopy and the obvious color changes with a visual LOD was 4.0 μM for the naked eye. Benefiting from the high specificity, the proposed colorimetric detection of I^- in kelp samples was achieved, indicating the available potential of the colorimetric detection for the determination of I^- in real samples. What's more, this detection procedure was time-saving and could avoid tedious procedures.

Photothermal visual sensing of alkaline phosphatase based on the etching of Au@MnO2 core-shell nanoparticles

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as a crucial enzyme involved in many physiological activities, is always used as one of the significant biomarkers in clinical diagnosis. Herein, a novel, simple, and effective photothermal quantitative method based on the etching of MnO₂-coated gold nanoparticles (Au@MnO₂ NPs) was established for ALP activity assay with a household thermometer-based visual readout. The photothermal effect of Au@MnO₂ NPs is much higher than that of MnO₂ NPs or Au NPs. The MnO₂ shell of Au@MnO₂ NPs can be etched by ascorbic acid, a product of ALP-catalyzed hydrolysis of 2-phospho-l-ascorbic acid. With the etching of Au@MnO₂ NPs, the photothermal conversion efficiency decreased gradually, causing the decrease of the temperature increment of the solutions by degrees. A household thermometer, instead of large-scale and professional instruments, was used as a signal reader to realize the visual quantitative detection. The photothermal platform was used successfully for the determination of ALP with a wide linear range from 2.0 to 50 U/L and a detection limit as low as 0.75 U/L. Moreover, the inhibition efficiency of sodium vanadate for ALP activity was investigated, proving the photothermal quantitative method will be a potential platform for screening enzyme inhibitors. Such a sensitive, facile, and low-cost sensing assay provides a new prospect to develop platforms for point-of-care testing.

Colorimetric detection of Cu2+ based on the inhibition strategy for etching reaction of AgNCs

In this study, an efficient and simple colorimetric method for sensing of Cu²⁺ was established using inhibition effect of Cu²⁺ to the etching reaction of silver nanocubes (AgNCs) induced by H₂O₂. The etching reaction of AgNCs changes its morphology and absorbance with the visual appearance from yellow to colorless. On the contrary, the presence of Cu²⁺ can significantly inhibit the etching progress. Thus Cu²⁺ induces the obvious absorbance enhancement compared with AgNCs/H₂O₂ system. This design realizes colorimetric detection of Cu²⁺ based on the inhibition effect of etching reaction using AgNCs nanoprobe. The colorimetric response of AgNCs nanoprobe in ΔAbs_417.5 shows the linearity with the increasing concentrations of Cu²⁺ from 0.01 to 40 μM with good selectivity. The concentration limit of Cu²⁺ efficaciously discriminated by the naked eye is as low as 0.01 μM. Furthermore, the Euclidean distance (ED) of the difference map in RGB change before and after response with Cu²⁺ is applied for further visualization recognition of Cu²⁺. All the above results indicate the outstanding practicability and accuracy of the proposed assay for Cu²⁺ sensing.

Influence of different tooth etchants on bur-cut and uncut enamel

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pre-etching for two-step self-etch adhesive bonding to bur-cut and uncut enamel. Bur-cut and uncut enamel surfaces were assigned to surface treatments of no etchant (CT), Enamel Conditioner (EC; Shofu, Kyoto, Japan), or K-etchant syringe (KE; Kuraray Noritake Dental, Tokyo, Japan). The bonded samples were thermal cycled and evaluated by microshear bond strength (μSBS). The adhesive interface after acid-base challenge and the conditioned enamel surfaces were morphologically analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For bur-cut enamel, EC and KE pre-etching significantly improved μSBS. For uncut enamel, KE showed higher μSBS than EC. SEM observation revealed that only KE removed the prismless layer of the uncut enamel surface. EC could improve enamel bonding and appears to be a substitute for phosphoric acid, especially for bur-cut enamel. However, uncut enamel could not be effectively conditioned by EC with a lower bond strength than KE.

Etching-Induced Surface Reconstruction of NiMoO4 for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Rational reconstruction of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) pre-catalysts and performance index of OER catalysts are crucial but still challenging for universal water electrolysis. Herein, we develop a double-cation etching strategy to tailor the electronic structure of NiMoO4, where the prepared NiMoO4 nanorods etched by H2O2 reconstruct their surface with abundant cation deficiencies and lattice distortion. Calculation results reveal that the double cation deficiencies can make the upshift of d-band center for Ni atoms and the active sites with better oxygen adsorption capacity. As a result, the optimized sample (NMO-30M) possesses an overpotential of 260 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and excellent long-term durability of 162 h. Importantly, in situ Raman test reveals the rapid formation of high-oxidation-state transition metal hydroxide species, which can further help to improve the catalytic activity of NiMoO4 in OER. This work highlights the influence of surface remodification and shed some light on activating catalysts.

Digital image colorimetry in combination with chemometrics for the detection of carbaryl based on the peroxidase-like activity of nanoporphyrins and the etching process of gold nanoparticles

Carbaryl is a typical carbamate pesticide that plays an essential role in agricultural production, but its residues cause serious harm to the environment and human health. Here, we developed a polychromatic colorimetric sensor based on ZnTPyP-DTAB peroxidase activity and gold nano-bipyramids (Au NBPs) etching to detect carbaryl. ZnTPyP-DTAB catalyzes the decomposition of H₂O₂ to hydroxyl radicals, and Au NBPs are etched. The coordination of zinc and nitrogen in nanometer porphyrins was affected by the steric effects of carbaryl, which resulted in decreased activity of ZnTPyP-DTAB peroxidase. The detection limit of carbaryl was 0.26 mg/kg. The recoveries of carbaryl in reaal sample ranged from 91 % to 107% (RSD ≤ 0.7%). The sensor platform displayed a series of high-resolution multicolor variations of rainbow colors within the above concentration range. The rich color variation facilitates the acquisition of digital images. RGB value transformation combined with partial least squares regression model can accurately and quantitatively detect carbaryl in vegetables, fruits and Chinese medicinal materials.

Ultrafine cobalt nanoparticle-embedded leaf-like hollow N-doped carbon as an enhanced catalyst for activating monopersulfate to degrade phenol

While cobalt (Co) stands out as the most effective non-precious metal for activating monopersulfate (MPS) to degrade organic pollutants, Co nanoparticles (NPs) are easily aggregated, losing their activities. As many efforts have attempted to immobilize Co NPs on supports/substrates to minimize the aggregation issue, recently hollow-structured carbon-based materials (HSCMs) have been regarded as promising supports owing to their distinct physical and chemical properties. Herein, in this study, a special HSCM is developed by using a special type of ZIF (i.e., ZIF-L) as a precursor. Through one-step chemical etching with tannic acid (TA), the resultant product still remains leaf-like morphology of pristine ZIF-L but the inner part of this product becomes hollow, which is subsequently transformed to ultrafine Co-NP embedded hollow-structured N-doped carbon (CoHNC) via pyrolysis. Interestingly, CoHNC exhibits superior catalytic activities than CoNC (without hollow structure) and the commercial Co₃O₄ NPs for activating MPS to degrade phenol. The E_a value of phenol degradation by CoHNC + MPS was determined as 44.3 kJ/mol. Besides, CoHNC is also capable of effectively activating MPS to degrade phenol over multiple-cycles without any significant changes of catalytic activities, indicating that CoHNC is a promising heterogeneous catalyst for activating MPS to degrade organic pollutants in water.

Protocol for Etching Bare-Fused Silica Capillaries for Sheathless Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry Coupling

Homemade capillaries are a very common practice for the users of capillary electrophoresis (CE), notably in CE-UV. With the advent of the capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry coupling since the end of the 1980s, several interfaces have been developed. Among those interfaces, the porous tip sprayer allows great sensitivity at nano flow rates and has been used in numerous applications over the past few years. However, the homemade implementation of a suitable capillary for the porous tip sprayer is more challenging. The porous tip is created by etching the bare-fused silica capillary with hydrofluoric acid. Here we describe the complete process of etching bare-fused silica capillaries, from length cutting to quality control of the newly etched capillary.

Gold nanostar@graphene quantum dot as a new colorimetric sensing platform for detection of cysteine

We here report on a facile method for preparation of gold nanostar-graphene quantum dot (AuNS@GQD) composite, which produces highly active surfactant-free AuNSs. The etching reaction of this composite with Na₂SO₃ was studied and used as a new sensing strategy for colorimetric detection of nM levels of cysteine. In the presence of Na₂SO₃, the shape of AuNSs changes to sphere-like nanoparticles, leading to a distinct color change of solution from light green to indigo. This phenomenon results from the redox reaction of Au atoms at the apexes and sharp corners of the NSs with oxygen which leads to the formation of [Au(SO₃)₂]^3-. Our studies indicated that the stars with larger sizes show greater activity in etching reaction since they have more branches and sharper tips. Due to the strong coordination between Au and thiols, pre-added cysteine can protect the AuNSs from SO₃^2- etching and so the shape and the color of AuNSs remain unaltered. This anti-etching effect was used for the detection of cysteine with the detection limit as low as 0.35 nM. The developed colorimetric sensor was validated by HPLC method and applied for analysis of human plasma samples.

The quality of etched enamel in different regions and tooth types and its significance in bonding and the development of white spot lesions

OBJECTIVES

To quantify differences in the etch quality of enamel within and between human teeth, which has not previously been attempted.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The buccal right and left halves of 27 extracted human teeth were randomly allocated to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or micro-computed tomography (μCT) for evaluation. The buccal surfaces were pumiced, etched with 37% phosphoric acid gel etchant for 15 seconds, rinsed, and air dried. Each tooth was divided into three regions (incisal, middle, and cervical) and viewed after etching at 1200× magnification with SEM. The μCT scans were taken before and after etching to calculate apparent and material mineral densities.

RESULTS

SEM showed greater aprismatic enamel and poorer etch quality (ie, significantly less percentage enamel) for the posterior than anterior teeth and for the cervical region than for the incisal and middle regions of all teeth. Although there were no density differences prior to etching, μCT demonstrated that etching increased material density significantly more for the anterior than posterior teeth. Prior to etching, the enamel in the cervical regions was significantly less dense than the enamel in the middle or incisal regions. Etching significantly increased the material density of all three regions, which decreased initial regional differences. After etching, the apparent density of the cervical region remained significantly lower than the densities of the other two regions.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on SEM and μCT, there is greater aprismatic enamel and inferior etch quality in the cervical regions of all tooth types and is clinically significant in explaining the failure of sealant retention and the propensity for white spot lesions.

Improved semi automatic approach to count the tracks on LR-115 film for monitoring of radioactive elements

An improved semi automatic technique for counting the tracks formed on LR-115 films with the advantages of simplicity and speed is reported. In this technique, a microscope with a Dino-Eye eyepiece camera is coupled to a PC equipped with a python compiler. After etching of the LR-115 film, 16 track images were taken to find the track density. The images generated were binarized before application of a Python algorithm. This process does not disfigure the original track and increase the spatial resolution. The batch process option in Jasc Paint Shop Pro was used to binarize the 16 images simultanously. The Python program automatically counts the total number of tracks formed on the 16 track images. This method was compared with manual counting and counting with the software program-Scion image to verify it. The results showed that the proposed method is reasonably good at counting the tracks. It is a faster and less time-consuming method, and will facilitate measurements of etched tracks in a variety of applications.

Preparation and characterization of 3D printed PLA microneedle arrays for prolonged transdermal drug delivery of estradiol valerate

Biodegradable polymeric microneedle arrays (BPMNAs) could be explored as potential devices for transdermal drug delivery, which can provide a painless and safe drug delivery method. BPMNAs could also provide high drug-loading capacity and prolonged drug delivery once integrated with a drug reservoir. However, the fabrication of MNAs with a drug reservoir is expensive and requires complicated procedures. The present study was conducted to describe the preparation of a reservoir-based BPMNA containing estradiol valerate using polylactic acid (PLA) with the combination of FDM 3D printing and injection volume filling techniques. The tip size of the 3D printed needles decreased to 173 μm utilizing a chemical etching process. The content of estradiol valerate loaded in the 3D printed PLA MNAs was 29.79 ± 0.03 mg, and the release was in a prolonged manner for up to 7 days. The results of mechanical tests revealed that the force needed for the 3D printed PLA MNAs fracture (900 N) was significantly higher than that needed for their skin penetration (4 N). The successful penetration of 3D printed PLA MNAs through the stratum corneum was confirmed via penetration test, methylene blue staining, and histological examination. The results showed that 3D printed PLA MNAs can penetrate into the skin without reaching to the dermal nerves and puncture of blood vessels. In conclusion, in the current study, we explored the practicability of the preparation of drug loaded reservoir-based BPMNAs using the combination of FDM 3D printing and injection volume filling techniques for painless and prolonged transdermal drug delivery.

Simultaneous introduction of oxygen vacancies and hierarchical pores into titanium-based metal-organic framework for enhanced photocatalytic performance

Photo-generated radicals play an important role in photocatalytic reactions, yet numerous radicals undergo self-quenching before contact with the substrate because of their ultrafast lifetimes and limited diffusion distances, which decreases the utilization of free radicals and reduces the activity of photocatalysts. Herein, both hierarchical pores and oxygen vacancies (OVs) were successfully introduced into a titanium-based metal-organic framework (MOF), namely MIL-125-NH₂ (MIL for Materials of Institut Lavoisier), via a simple and controllable acid etching method. The generation of OVs increased the yield of photogenerated radicals, while the hierarchical pore structure conferred a pore enrichment effect, thus enhancing the utilization of photogenerated radicals. Owing to the synergistic effect of the hierarchical pores and OVs, the obtained single-crystal nanoreactor, H-MIL-125-NH₂-V_O, showed much higher catalytic activity for rhodamine (RhB) degradation than pristine MIL-125-NH₂. In fact, the rate constant for catalytic RhB degradation in H-MIL-125-NH₂-V_O was approximately eight times that of MIL-125-NH₂. This work highlights the significant contribution of both hierarchical pores and OVs to enhancing the photocatalytic performance of MOFs.

Fabrication Protocol for Thermoplastic Microfluidic Devices: Nanoliter Volume Bioreactors for Cell Culturing

Microfluidic devices consist of microchannels etched or embossed into substrates made of polymer, glass or silicon. Intricate connections of the microchannels to reactors with some smart mechanical structures such as traps or curvatures fulfil the desired functionalities such as mixing, separation, flow control or setting the environment for biochemical reactions. Here, we describe the fabrication methods of a thermoplastic microbioreactor step by step. First, material selection is made, then, production methods are determined with the equipment that can be easily procured in a laboratory. COP with its outstanding characteristics among many polymers was chosen. Two types of microbioreactors, with and without electrodes, are designed with AutoCAD and L-edit softwares. Photolithography and electrochemical wet etching are used for master mold preparation. Thermal evaporator is employed for pure chromium and gold deposition on COP substrate and etchants are used to form the interdigitated electrodes. Once the master mold produced, hot embossing is used to obtain the designed shape on drilled and planarized COP. Cover COP, with or without electrodes, is bonded to the hot embossed COP via thermo-compression and thermoplastic microfluidic device is realized. Tubings are connected to the device and a bridge between the macro and micro world is established. Yeast or mammalian cells labeled or tagged with GFP/RFP on specific gene products are loaded into the microfluidic device, and real time data on cell dimensions and fluorescence intensity are collected using inverted fluorescence microscope, and finally image processing is used to analyze the acquired data.

To etch or not to etch, Part I: On the fatigue strength and dentin bonding performance of universal adhesives

OBJECTIVE

To characterize whether the bonding performance and fatigue strength of resin-dentin interfaces created by a universal adhesive would be affected by different H₃PO₄-application times to more accurately assess long-term durability.

METHODS

Mid-coronal flat dentin surfaces with standardized smear-layers were produced on sound third molars, etched with 32% H₃PO₄ for 0, 3 and 15 s, bonded with a mild universal adhesive (3M-ESPE) and restored with a nanofilled composite. Bonded specimens (0.9 × 0.9 mm) were stored in deionized water for 24 h and sectioned into beams for microtensile testing (n = 10). Resin-dentin beams were tested under tension until failure (0.5 mm/min) after 24 h or 6 month storage in artificial saliva at 37 ̊C. Bar-shaped resin-dentin beams (0.9 × 0.9 × 12 mm) were tested under 4-point-flexure initially at quasi-static loads (n = 22) and then under cyclic loads (n > 50). The stress-life fatigue behavior was evaluated using the twin-bonded interface approach by the staircase method at 4 Hz. Fractured interfaces and the tension side of unfractured beams were evaluated under SEM, along with the micro-morphology of the etched dentin surfaces and hybrid layers. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test and Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

Quasi-static loads were limited to discriminate the bonding performance of resin-dentin interfaces. Application modes significantly affected etching patterns, fatigue strength, endurance limits and hybrid layer morphology (p < 0.001).

SIGNIFICANCE

Reductions in fatigue strength of self-etched bonded interfaces raise concerns about the true ability of universal adhesives to properly bond to dentin.

Highly sensitive colorimetric determination of nitrite based on the selective etching of concave gold nanocubes

Concave gold nanocubes are viable optical nanoprobes for the determination of nitrite ions. Herein, a novel approach was developed, based on the measurement of localized surface plasmon resonance absorption. The addition of nitrite ions selectively induced the etching of concave gold nanocubes, abrading the sharp vertices to spherical corners, which resulted in blue-shifted absorption accompanied by a color change from sapphire blue to light violet. The mechanism of selective etching of concave gold nanocube tips was elucidated by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atom probe tomography. The optimized detection of NO₂^- via the concave gold nanocube-based probe occurred at pH 3.0 and in 20 mM NaCl concentration at 40 °C. The absorption ratios (A_{550 nm}/A_{640 nm}) were proportional to the NO₂^- concentrations in the range 0.0-30 μM, with a detection limit of 38 nM (limit of quantitation of 0.12 μM and precision of 2.7%) in tap water. The highly selective and sensitive colorimetric assay has been successfully applied to monitor the nitrite ion concentrations in spiked tap water, pond water, commercial ham, and sausage samples.

Gold nanostar as an ultrasensitive colorimetric probe for picomolar detection of lead ion

The sensitivity for analytes of interest is vital for environment protection and food safety. Here, we propose an extremely sensitive assay toward Pb²⁺ by using gold nanostars (GNSs) as probes based on the catalytic activity of Pb on etching gold atoms after being reduced in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and sodium thiosulfate. GNSs were prepared by using 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid as both the reducing and capping agents, enabling high stability and sensitivity for quantitation of Pb²⁺. Upon increasing Pb²⁺ concentration over the range of 0-10 μM, GNS solution color changed from greenish-blue to blue to purple to red, and eventually to colorless. The color change can be distinguished by naked eye at the Pb²⁺ concentration as low as 200 pM. Through monitoring longitudinal localized surface plasmon of GNSs, Pb²⁺ could be detected with a limit of detection of 1.5 pM, and the working range is 2 pM-1 μM. The ultra-high sensitivity of our assay stems from the high catalysis of Pb on etching gold on tips and branches in the presence of 2-ME and sodium thiosulfate, leading to the shape deformation to spherical gold nanoparticle and the corresponding significant changes in their optical properties. The assay provides high selectivity of Pb²⁺ over the tested interfering metal ions like Cu²⁺. With high sensitivity and selectivity, the assay was efficiently validated by analyzing water samples and monitoring the migration of Pb²⁺ from the tested container to water.

Influence of selective acid-etching on functionality of halloysite-chitosan nanocontainers for sustained drug release

The functionality of halloysite (Hal) nanotubes as drug carriers can be improved by lumen enlargement and polymer modification. This study investigates the influence of selective acid etching on Hal functionalization with cationic biopolymer chitosan. Hal was subjected to lumen etching under mild conditions, loaded under vacuum with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug aceclofenac, and incubated in an acidic solution of chitosan. The functionality of pristine and etched Hal before and upon polymer functionalization was assessed by ζ-potential measurements, structural characterization (FT-IR, DSC and XRPD analysis), cell viability assay, drug loading and drug release studies. Acid etching increased specific surface area, pore volume and pore size of Hal, decreased ζ-potential and facilitated binding of the cationic polymer. XRPD and DSC analysis revealed crystalline structure of etched Hal. Successful chitosan binding and drug entrapment were further confirmed by FT-IR and DSC studies. XRPD showed surface polymer binding. DSC and FT-IR analyses confirmed the presence of the entrapped drug in its crystalline form. Drug loading was increased for ≈81% by selective lumen etching. Slight decrease of drug content occurred during chitosan functionalization due to aceclofenac diffusion in the polymer solution. The drug release was more sustained from etched Hal nanocomposites (up to ≈87% for 12 h) than from pristine Hal (up to ≈97% for 12 h) due to more intensive chitosan binding. High human fibroblast survival rates upon exposure to pristine and etched Hal before and after chitosan functionalization (>90% in the concentration of 1000 μg/mL) confirmed that both lumen etching under mild conditions and polymer functionalization had no significant effect on cytocompatibility. Based on these findings, selective lumen etching in combination with polycation modification appears to be a promising approach for improvement of Hal nanotubes functionality by increasing payload, polymer binding capacity, and sustained release properties with no significant effect on their cytocompatibility.

On the synergistic effect of sulfonic functionalization and acidic adhesive conditioning to enhance the adhesion of PEEK to resin-matrix composites

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of the sulfuric acid etching and an acidic adhesive conditioning on the shear bond strength of PEEK to a resin-matrix composite.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty PEEK specimens were assigned randomly to 4 groups for H₂SO₄ etching followed by universal adhesive (pH at 2.5) conditioning for 0, 1, 3, and 5 min. Thirty PEEK specimens were divided into 3 groups for only acidic adhesive conditioning for 0, 1, 3, and 5 min. After the light-curing of the adhesive, a nanohybrid resin composite was applied onto the surfaces and then light-cured following the manufacturer`s guidelines. All specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 24 h mechanical testing. Shear bond strength tests were performed using a universal testing machine. Surfaces were analyzed by SEM, light interferometry, FTIR, and liquid contact angle measurement. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

No adhesion was achieved between untreated PEEK a resin-matrix composite, regardless of the adhesive conditioning time points. Shear bond strength of H₂SO₄-etched PEEK to resin-matrix composite increased with time (0 mmin. 4.95 ± 2.86 MPa < 1 min: 9.35 ± 2.26 MPa < 3 min: 17.84 ± 2.82 MPa < 5 min: 21.43 ± 5.00 MPa). SEM images revealed a significant modification of PEEK surface topography after the H₂SO₄ etching.

SIGNIFICANCE

The acidic adhesive was unable to modify the untreated PEEK surface to establish an effective adhesion although a synergistic effect was noticed when the universal (acidic) adhesive was applied over a H₂SO₄-etched PEEK surface, thus improving the PEEK to resin-matrix composite adhesion.

Colorimetric detection of Cr6+ ions based on surface plasma resonance using the catalytic etching of gold nano-double cone @ silver nanorods

Hexavalent chromium ion (Cr⁶⁺) is highly toxic to human health and environment. Herein, high-performance detection of Cr⁶⁺ is of great import. In this study, a rapid and sensitive multicolor colorimetric method for detection of Cr⁶⁺ in aqueous solution was established on the basis of Cr⁶⁺ etching of gold nano-double cone@silver nanorods (Au NDC@Ag NRs). Au NDC@Ag NRs was synthesized by a modified seed-mediated growth method. The catalytic etching induced by Cr⁶⁺ changed the morphology of Au NDC@Ag NRs, leading to the attenuation of surface plasma resonance (SPR) and the redshift of absorption spectra. Meanwhile, Au NDC@Ag NRs exhibits obvious color changes from orange to pink, to purple, and finally becomes colorless with the increasing concentrations of Cr⁶⁺. With such a design, naked-eye detection of Cr⁶⁺ was realized with high sensitivity. The proposed multicolor sensing method showed a good linearity between the redshift change of absorption peak (△λ) and the concentrations of Cr⁶⁺ in the range from 2.5 to 40 μM. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated as 1.69 μM in aqueous solution. In addition, successful detection of Cr⁶⁺ in tap water and Yangtze River water, indicating the real applications of Au NDC@Ag NRs probe in monitoring Cr⁶⁺ in environment.

Effect of potassium hydrogen difluoride in zirconia-to-resin bonding

The objective of this study was to compare potassium hydrogen difluoride (KHF₂) etching for zirconia with commonly used surface roughening and chemical bonding methods (silane, MDP-monomer primer) for resin-based luting cement bonding to zirconia. Zirconia specimens were divided into six groups (n=10) according to surface treatment and bonding procedures, with and without thermocycling (6,000 cycles, 5-55ºC): 1) air-borne particle abrasion with alumina+MDP-monomer (ABP), 2) air-borne particle abrasion with silica-coated trialuminium trioxide+silane (ABPR-S) and 3) KHF₂ etching+silane (ETC). Surface roughness and bond strength (SBS-test) for dry and thermocycled specimens were measured. SBS did not vary statistically between the dry groups, but thermocycling decreased the bond strengths of all the tested methods (p<0.05). After thermocycling, ABP had statistically significantly lower bond strength values compared to ABPR-S and ETC (p<0.05). Etching method with KHF₂ did not provide better bonding capacity to previously introduced and commonly adopted bonding methods.

Image analysis data for the study of the reactivity of the phases in Nd-Fe-B magnets etched with HCl-saturated Cyphos IL 101

Three phases can be distinguished in Nd‒Fe‒B permanent magnets: a Nd2Fe14B matrix grain phase, a Nd-rich grain boundary phase and a Nd-oxide phases. Common reaction models for leaching, such as the shrinking-particle model, cannot simply be applied to composite Nd‒Fe‒B permanent magnets because of the different chemical reactivities of the crystalline phases mentioned above. Etching the surface of a Nd‒Fe‒B magnet to expose its microstructure to electron microscopy is a necessary practice to correlate the microstructure itself to the specific properties of the magnets. Aqueous solutions of mineral acids are often used for etching purposes. However, these solutions are too low viscous to easily control the etching front and they show little selectivity in the etching process. In our work, the ionic liquid Cyphos IL 101 was used to etch bulk magnets instead of aqueous HCl solutions. The bulk Nd‒Fe‒B magnets were first polished, then exposed to a solution of 3 M HCl in Cyphos IL 101 for different times and at different temperatures. Afterwards, the etched Nd‒Fe‒B magnets were washed with ethanol and acetone. The results were examined via scanning-electron microscopy and image analysis. A commercial software, ImageJ®, was employed for image analysis. The latter technique was used to correlate the etched area (%area) or the grain and oxide size to the etching temperature or the etching time. The grain or the oxide size were calculated as Feret diameter. Image analysis revealed to be a necessary tool to support and correct the findings first suggested by the simple scanning-electron microscopy. The data presented in this article might be reused to corroborate a new reactivity order of the three Nd‒Fe‒B phases, different from that traditionally reported in literature, which is - from the most to the least reactive - grain boundary > oxides > the Nd2Fe14B grain phase.

Does Etching of the Enamel with the Rubbing Technique Promote the Bond Strength of a Universal Adhesive System?

AIM

The aim of this in vitro research was to study the effect of etching by phosphoric acid with rubbing technique on the shear bond strength (SBS) of adhesive universal to enamel.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty extracted teeth were obtained. Three application methods (self-etch, etch-and-rinse, and etch-and-rinse with rubbing technique) were performed to bond the enamel surfaces by a universal adhesive. After 24 hours of immersion in water at 37°C, the specimens were prepared for the SBS test. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to observe the adhesive-enamel interfaces. Optical numeric microscope was used to observe the failure style. Statistical analyses were done with one-way analysis of variance test.

RESULTS

Statistically significant higher bond strength values were observed for etch-and-rinse mode with rubbing technique (25.98 ± 5.70) MPa then for the etch-and-rinse without rubbing (22.07 ± 5.27) MPa and self-etch modes (9.96 ± 2.98) MPa.

CONCLUSION

Enamel etched by 37% phosphoric acid with rubbing technique for 20 seconds showed an increase in the SBS of the universal adhesive to enamel surfaces. The tags of the adhesive can be presented more efficiently by rubbing the acid before the bonding process, consequently, an optimal interface for the bonding.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

According to the results of this in vitro study, the selective enamel etching mode with rubbing technique is advisable when using the universal adhesive, as it significantly increased the bond strength of this adhesive to enamel surfaces. The clinician should etch the enamel using phosphoric acid with rubbing technique for 20 seconds to promote the bond strength of the universal adhesive system.

Highly sensitive and selective colorimetric sensor for thiocyanate based on electrochemical oxidation-assisted complexation reaction with Gold nanostars etching

In this work, we developed an electrochemical oxidation-assisted complexation strategy for highly sensitive and selective detection of thiocyanate (SCN^-). Gold nanostars (AuNSs) with uniform and sharp tips were first prepared, and we found they can be quickly etched to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) under electrochemical oxidation with the existence of halide and halogen-like ions. Through introducing SCN^--selective molecule: zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc), the fabricated ZnPc-AuNSs/ITO electrode can rapidly and selectively response to SCN^- under electrochemical oxidation, manifesting as a noticeable change in color from navy blue to red. Thus SCN^- concentration can be easily reflected. The wide wavelength tuning range of AuNSs to AuNPs make the ZnPc-AuNSs/ITO sensor obtain a much wider detection range for SCN^- (10 nM to 80 mM) than most other reported studies. In addition, the detection limit is as low as 3 nM. It renders the sensor to be easily used in much diluted matrixes, which can further lower the interference. We further applied the colorimetric sensor to SCN^- detection in wastewater and milk, excellent performance was obtained. The proposed electrochemical oxidation-assisted complexation strategy will have good promise in developing colorimetric sensors with high selectivity and wide detection range, and will display more useful application in environmental monitoring.

Chair-side CAD/CAM fabrication of a single-retainer resin bonded fixed dental prosthesis: a case report

This clinical report describes designing and fabricating a single-retainer resin-bonded fixed dental prosthesis with a chair-side computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing system. The whole procedure, from tooth extraction to final placement of the prosthesis, was completed in one day, and a single clinic visit. No clinical complications were found at the 2-year follow-up after placement of the restoration, and satisfactory functional and esthetic results were achieved.

Investigation of electropolishing characteristics of tungsten in eco-friendly sodium hydroxide aqueous solution

In this study, an eco-friendly electrolyte for electropolishing tungsten and the minimum material removal depth on the electropolished tungsten surface are investigated using an electrochemical etching method. Using a concentrated acid electrolyte, the polarization curve and current density transient are observed. For a NaOH electrolyte, the effects of interelectrode gap and electrolyte concentration on electropolishing are investigated. The differences in electropolishing characteristics are compared among different electrolyte types. Microholes are etched on the electropolished tungsten surface to determine the minimum material removal depth on the tungsten surface. Experimental results indicate the color effect due to a change in the thickness of the oxide film on the tungsten surface after electropolishing with a concentrated acid electrolyte. The surface roughness decreases with the interelectrode gap width owing to the increased current density when using the NaOH electrolyte. However, the electropolishing effect is less prominent with a significantly smaller gap because the generated bubbles are unable to escape from the narrow working gap in time. A material removal depth of less than 10 nm is achieved on the tungsten surface in an area of diameter 300 µm, using the electrochemical etching method.

Self-assembled nanomanipulation of silica nanoparticles enable mechanochemically robust super hydrophobic and oleophilic textile

HYPOTHESIS

Non-wettable fabric surfaces with excellent mechanochemical robustness for practical applications have attracted much attention from researchers in recent years. However, such surfaces suffer from stability issues when exposed to harsh environments because of the weak bonding of the functional materials.

EXPERIMENTS

A unique facile approach is proposed to enhance the adhesion strength and hydrophobicity by improving the hierarchal roughness and opposite charge attraction using alkali and cationized bovine serum albumin (cBSA) respectively. Alkaline etching generated the microroughness and functional groups which facilitated the enhanced adsorption of material on fiber surfaces. The etched fabrics were further treated with cBSA to introduce the positive charged functional groups which enabled the crosslinking of silica nanoparticles with the fiber surfaces through strong electrostatic attraction.

FINDINGS

Benefitting from this novel approach, the improved properties of the samples were confirmed through the water contact angle (WCA), self-cleaning effect, chemical/mechanical stability, and selective absorption of organic solvents. Superhydrophobic fabric with WCA of 171° was fabricated by alkaline etching followed by cationization. Along with the excellent hydrophobicity, superhydrophobic fabric exhibited strong chemical, and mechanical stability and self-cleaning property. The superhydrophobic fabric was utilized for the selective absorption of organic solvents from water because of its superoleophilic characteristics. The significant fabrication strategy and promising performance of superhydrophobic fabrics make these fabrics feasible for large-scale production for various industrial applications i.e. in harsh chemical industries and waste water treatment.

Functionalized etched tilted fiber Bragg grating aptasensor for label-free protein detection

An aptasensor based on etched tilted fiber Bragg grating (eTFBG) is developed on a single-mode optical fiber targeting biomolecule detection. TFBGs were chemically etched using hydrofluoric acid (HF) to partially remove the fiber cladding. The sensor response was coarsely interrogated, resulting on a sensitivity increase from 1.25 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) at the beginning of the process, up to 23.38 nm/RIU at the end of the etching, for a RI range from 1.3418 to 1.4419 RIU. The proposed aptasensor showed improved RI sensitivity as compared to the unetched TFBG, without requiring metal depositions on the fiber surface or polarization control during the measurements. The proposed sensor was tested for the detection of thrombin-aptamer interactions based on silane-coupling surface chemistry, with thrombin concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 40 nM. Functionalized eTFBGs provided a competitive platform for biochemical interaction measurements, showing sensitivity values ranging from 2.3 to 3.3 p.m./nM for the particular case of thrombin detection.

Sustainable technology for mass production of Ag nanoparticles and Al microparticles from damaged solar cell wafers

Solar cell industry produces high quantities of waste in form of broken, damaged, and rejected cells, whereas milling and filtering practices are typically used to recover the valuable materials (Al, Ag and Si) from such Waste Solar Cell Wafers (WSCWs). This recycling approach has its disadvantages, e.g. excessive energy consumption and dust emission causing loss of valuable metals. To fulfil the concept of Zero Waste for WSCWs, the authors present a sustainable technology for liberation of valuable metals from WSCWs and synthesis of added value products, in particular Ag nanoparticles and Al microparticles. The suggested technology consisted of three different approaches combined to liberate each material individually. The technology started with an Al layer disintegration process using Dimethyl Sulfoxide (as an eco-friendly and sustainable solvent) supported by ultrasonic treatment to break van der Waals' bonding between spherical Al microparticles that compose the Al paste layer, thus liberating Al in microparticle suspension form with particle size ∼3 μm, recovery rate >98%. After that, leaching by nitric acid and other eco-friendly reagents (Sodium Chloride, Ammonia solution and glucose syrup) assisted by ultrasonic treatment was used to dissolve Ag and later precipitate it in form of nanoparticles with avg. size 30 nm, yield >92%. Finally, etching using paste containing phosphoric acid was done to remove anti-reflection coating and purify the Si substrate with final recovery rate >99%. SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, and TEM were used for analysis of extracted materials as well as changes in the solvent. Investigation was also concerned with determining economic/global warming impacts of the technology.

Fast recovery process of carbon fibers from waste carbon fibers-reinforced thermoset plastics

In this work, we report a fast recycling process for carbon fiber-reinforced thermosetting resin matrix composites, to obtain recycled carbon fibers. Steam (H₂O) was selected as an oxidant to decompose the resin of the composites. The recycling reaction temperature and time were set in the range of 600-800 °C and 60 min, respectively. The recovery yield, surface morphologies, and mechanical properties including tensile strength and modulus of the recovered fibers were measured to evaluate the recycling efficiency. Microstructural properties of the recycled fiber were observed by X-ray studies, and the correlation of mechanical properties of the fibers with crystallite size and distribution was also evaluated. In conclusion, the carbon fibers were successfully recycled, while retaining 65% and 100% of the fibers' original tensile strength and modulus, respectively. 100% recovery yield was achieved in 60 min of decomposition time and 140 min of total process time.

Assessment of microcracks and shear bond strength after debonding orthodontic ceramic brackets on enamel priorly etched by different Er,Cr:YSGG and Er:YAG laser settings without acid application: An in vitro study

BACKGROUND DATA

Enamel microcrack formation has a high incidence after mechanical debonding of ceramic brackets. This may be due to high delivered shear bond strength values when enamel is priorly etched by phosphoric acid. It is still not well elucidated in the literature if laser etching affects enamel the same way. The aim of the research was to analyze different Er,Cr:YSGG and Er:YAG laser etching settings as an alternative to phosphoric acid, in an attempt to prevent enamel microcrack formation during laser etching and mechanical debonding, while reducing the shear bond strength to the minimal clinical acceptable value.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and thirty-three teeth were randomly divided into 7 experimental groups according to their etching modalities. Settings used for enamel etching were in Er,Cr:YSGG groups: Er,Cr:YSGG (1.5Watt, W/20Hertz, Hz); Er,Cr:YSGG (1.5W/15Hz) and Er,Cr:YSGG (2W/20Hz) and settings used for enamel etching in Er:YAG groups were: Er:YAG (60 millijoules, mJ), Er:YAG (80mJ) and Er:YAG (100mJ). Group C etched with 37% phosphoric acid served as control. Microscopic analysis was performed to assess presence of enamel microcracks. Shear bond strength was evaluated after thermocycling using Weibull survival analysis.

RESULTS

All groups showed a reduction in additional microcracks after debonding when compared to control, but only group Er:YAG (60mJ) exhibited a statistically significant difference. Groups Er:YAG (80mJ), control and Er:YAG (100mJ) showed respectively the highest probability of survival at various stress levels followed by groups Er:YAG (60mJ); Er,Cr:YSGG (1.5W/15Hz); Er,Cr:YSGG (2W/20Hz) and Er,Cr:YSGG (1.5W/20Hz) that presented a relatively considerable risk of failure, even at low stress levels.

CONCLUSIONS

When considering reduction of enamel microcrack formation and clinical acceptable shear bond strength, none of the groups succeeded both. Etching by Er:YAG (60mJ) and Er,Cr:YSGG (1.5W/15Hz), showed the least overall microcrack incidence between groups, but Er:YAG (60mJ) displayed significant reduction compared to phosphoric acid. However, etching by Er:YAG (80mJ) had the most predictable results in term of shear bond strength.

Occupational Characteristics of Semiconductor Workers with Cancer and Rare Diseases Registered with a Workers' Compensation Program in Korea

Background

The aim of this study was to describe the types of diseases that developed in semiconductor workers who have registered with the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (KWCWS) and to identify potential common occupational characteristics by the type of claimed disease.

Methods

A total of 55 semiconductor workers with cancer or rare diseases who claimed to the KWCWS were compared based on their work characteristics and types of claimed diseases. Leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and aplastic anemia were grouped into lymphohematopoietic (LHP) disorder.

Results

Leukemia (n = 14) and breast cancer (n = 10) were the most common complaints, followed by brain cancer (n = 6), aplastic anemia (n = 6), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 4). LHP disorders (n = 24) accounted for 43%. Sixty percent (n = 33) of registered workers (n = 55) were found to have been employed before 2000. Seventy-six percent (n = 42) of registered workers and 79% (n = 19) among the registered workers with LHP (n = 24) were found to be diagnosed at a relatively young age, ≤40 years. A total of 18 workers among the registered semiconductor workers were finally determined to deserve compensation for occupational disease by either the KWCWS (n = 10) or the administrative court (n = 8). Eleven fabrication workers who were compensated responded as having handled wafers smaller than eight inches in size. Eight among the 18 workers compensated (44 %) were found to have ever worked at etching operations.

Conclusion

The distribution of cancer and rare diseases among registered semiconductor workers was closely related to the manufacturing era before 2005, ≤8 inches of wafer size handled, exposure to clean rooms of fabrication and chip assembly operations, and etching operations.

Enhancing adhesion and alignment of human gingival fibroblasts on dental implants

BACKGROUND

Promoting the directional attachment of gingiva to the dental implant leads to the formation of tight connective tissue which acts as a seal against the penetration of oral bacteria. Such a directional growth is mostly governed by the surface texture.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study, three different methods, mechanical structuring, chemical etching and laser treatment, have been explored for their applicability in promoting cellular attachment and alignment of human primary gingival fibroblasts (HGFIBs).

RESULTS

The effectiveness of mechanical structuring was shown as a simple and a cost-effective method to create patterns to align HGIFIBs.

CONCLUSION

Combining mechanical structuring with chemical etching enhanced both cellular attachment and the cellular alignment.

Plasmonic spectral determination of Hg(II) based on surface etching of Au-Ag core-shell triangular nanoplates: From spectrum peak to dip

In this work, we develop a simple and selective sensing method for the detection of mercury ions based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectrum change of Au-Ag core-shell triangular nanoplates. When the concentration of mercury is increased, the etching-induced change of particle size and shape also leads to the decrease of the absorption peak at the fixed wavelength, until a spectrum dip takes place. This spectral change of "peak-to-dip" greatly enlarges the detection range of mercury ions, which could be fine tuned by changing the initial thickness of the Ag coating. Under optimal conditions, the decrease of the logarithmic absorption intensity has a good linear response with the concentration of mercury ions increasing from 10 to 1000 μM, and the limit of detection (LOD) is 0.88 μM. Interference studies and real samples test indicate that, this new sensing method has a good selection for mercury ions and can be practically used in lake water. This work shows the surface etching-induced SPR shift can also leads to the intensity change with "peak-to-dip" fashion, which greatly enlarge the concentration range of the detection and could be widely applied in the spectroscopy sensing based on SPR.

Fabrication of Glass Microfluidic Devices

This chapter provides step-by-step procedures for the fabrication of glass-based microfluidic devices. These procedures include device design, photomask generation, photolithography, channel etching, and high-temperature bonding.

Soft Lithography, Molding, and Micromachining Techniques for Polymer Micro Devices

This chapter enumerates the methods, protocol, and safety procedures of various fabrication techniques for polymer-based microfluidic devices. The polymer materials can be a solid or a liquid, and the fabrication protocol needs to be executed accordingly. Various techniques demonstrating the fabrication of microfluidic devices using solid and liquid polymers are described. Procedure for each fabrication process is delineated with detailed images. Further, dos and don'ts for all the fabrication techniques are explained in the notes of each section. This chapter will benefit those interested in the microfluidic device fabrication using polymers and guide them to avoid mistakes so as to obtain an elegant device.The techniques are listed as follows: 1. Replica molding 2. Microcontact printing 3. Micro-transfer molding 4. Solvent-assisted molding 5. Hot embossing 6. Injection molding 7. CNC micromachining 8. Laser photo ablation 9. X-ray lithography 10. UV patterning 11. Plasma etching 12. Ion beam etching 13. Capillary molding 14. Micro-stereolithography.

Effect of a self-etching primer containing 4-META and sodium sulfite after phosphoric acid etching on bonding strength of MMA-TBB resin to human enamel

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength and durability of MMA-TBB resin to human enamel applied a self-etching primer with phosphoric acid etching.

METHODS

A self-etching primer (Teeth primer, TP) containing 4-methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride (4-META) and sodium sulfite and two etchants having different phosphoric acid concentrations (K-etchant gel, KE, 35-45%: Red gel, RG, 20-25%) were used as treatment agent, and MMA-TBB resin was used as luting agent. Enamel surfaces were treated with six methods which were as follow: KE, RG, TP, KE+TP, and RG+TP. After enamel specimens were bonded with MMA-TBB resin and stored in distilled water for 24h, the shear bond strength test was done at 0 thermocycling or 20,000 thermocycling. These results were statistically verified with Steel-Dwass multiple comparisons and Man-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

The shear bond strength of TP group, KE+TP group, and RG+TP group were significantly higher than KE group and RG group in pre-thermocycling. KE+TP group and RG+TP group were significantly higher than other groups in post-thermocycling.

CONCLUSIONS

Applying TP with phosphoric acid etching can increased shear bond durability despite difference of phosphoric acid concentrations (35-45% or 20-25%).

Effects of non-thermal plasma on sandblasted titanium dental implants in beagle dogs

BACKGROUND

In this study, we investigated the effects of treating dental implants made from titanium with argon based non-thermal plasma, immediately before insertion on implant stability and bone formation. Biodegradable sandblasting and acid etching had been previously used to modify the surface of the implants.

METHODS

To obtain data for 4-time points in triplicate with references, a total of 36 dental implants were divided into 2 groups; 18 implants served as the experimental group and received a spray containing non-thermal plasma, while the other 18 implants served as controls. Two treated and two untreated implants were each inserted in the jaws of 9 beagle dogs. After periods of 4, 8, and 12 weeks, the Implant Stability Quotient scores were determined and histometric values obtained.

RESULTS

Plasma spray treatment increased the healing time slightly during the early recovery period (4th to 8th week, p = 0.1595 and 0.1041, respectively), but was not profoundly effective in the later recovery stage (12th week, p = 0.4942). Both non-decalcified histometric measurements and bone growth analysis showed no statistically significant differences between the plasma spray group and the controls at 4, 8, and 12 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Non-thermal plasma did not enhance the stability of the implants nor did it increase bone formation in our animal models.

Fluorescence turn-on sensing of trace cadmium ions based on EDTA-etched CdTe@CdS quantum dot

Cadmium-caused environmental pollution and diseases have always been worldwide problems. Thus it is extremely urgent to establish a cheap, rapid, simple and selective detection method for trace cadmium in drinking water. In this study, a fluorescence "turn-on" method based on ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-etched CdTe@CdS quantum dots (QDs) was designed to detect Cd²⁺. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were utilized for chemical and structural characterization of the as-prepared QDs. Based on chemical etching of EDTA on the surface of CdTe@CdS QDs, specific Cd²⁺ recognition sites were produced, and then results in fluorescence quenching. The introduction of Cd²⁺ could identify these sites and restore the fluorescence of the EDTA-QDs system. Under the optimum conditions, the nanoprobe shows a linear response range from 0.05 to 9 μM with a very low detection limit of 0.032 μM. In addition, the reported fluorescence probe in this work displays a good selectivity for trace Cd²⁺ over other metal ions and an admirable practicability in real water samples.

Comparative study of the effect of Er:YAG and Er:Cr;YSGG lasers on porcelain: etching for the bonding of orthodontic brackets

This study investigated the effect of Er:YAG (smart 2940 Dplus, DEKA, Italy) and Er:CrYSGG (Waterlase iPlus, Biolase, USA) lasers on the shear bond strength (SBS) between the orthodontic brackets and dental porcelain in comparison with conventional acid etching with 9% hydrofluoric acid (HF, Ultradent, USA). A total of 60 specimens of maxillary incisor crown were prepared and randomly assigned to five groups; each group was subjected to a different porcelain surface conditioning: (1) etching with the 9% HF for 2 min; (2) etching with the 9% HF for 2 min followed by irradiation with the Er:CrYSGG laser (3-W power, 10-Hz frequency for 10 s); (3) etching with the 9% HF for 2 min followed by irradiation with the Er:YAG laser (3-W power, 10-Hz frequency for 10 s); (4) Irradiation with the Er:CrYSGG laser (3-W power, 10-Hz frequency for 10 s without acid etching) and (5) irradiation with the Er:YAG laser (3-W power,10-Hz frequency for 10 s without acid etching). After using Transbond XT primer and Transbond XT adhesive, the metal brackets (Dentaurum, Germany equilibrium 2, optimal design) bonded to the conditioned porcelain surface. Subsequently, the specimens were thermocycled for 5000 cycles and then debonded using the Universal Testing Machine (Zwick). In each group, one specimen was not bonded to brackets to allow further examination with electron microscopy. After debonding, the specimens were examined by stereomicroscope to determine their adhesive remnant index (ARI). The average SBS [Mean (SD)] values in the five groups were as follows: HF (32.58 ± 9.21 MPa), Er:CrYSGG + HF (27.81 ± 7.66 MPa), Er:YAG + HF (23.08 ± 9.55 MPa), Er:CrYSGG (14.11 ± 9.35 MPa), and Er:YAG (6.30 ± 3.09 MPa). A statistically significant difference in SBS existed between the first three groups and the two laser groups (df = 4, F = 18.555, p < 0.001). Evaluation of ARI values showed that bond failures in the first three groups were mostly of cohesive and mixed types, but in the laser groups, they were mostly adhesive. Chi-square was not significant between groups (p = 0.219). The Er:YAG laser with the stated specifications is not a suitable alternative to HF etching. In the case of Er:CrYSGG laser, although the conditioning outcome met the bond strength requirement for orthodontic brackets (that is, 6-8 MPa). Therefore, the bond strength must be further improved by fine-tuning the irradiation details.

Effect of Enamel Deproteinization in Primary Teeth

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare the topographical features of enamel surface, etched with different materials.

STUDY DESIGN

10 extracted human primary molars were randomly selected and cut and trimmed to 1 mm². Each group comprised of 10 blocks and the enamel was treated as follows: Group I-35% H₃PO_4; Group II-5.25% NaOCl + 35% H₃PO_{4 ;}Group III-5.25% NaOCl; Group IV no treatment was carried out. All the samples were prepared for Scanning electron microscope analysis. The images were obtained and evaluated for the quality type I-II etching of the enamel surface using Auto-CAD 2011 software.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test (p<0.001).

RESULTS

The mean surface area of type I and II etching pattern values for Group- I was 39608.18 μm² and Group- II was 45051.34 μm².

CONCLUSION

Deproteinization with 5.25% Sodium hypochlorite prior to acid etching could be used to increase the surface area of adhesion of composite material with the tooth surface.