State of the Art of Micro-CT Applications in Dental Research

This review highlights the recent advances in X-ray microcomputed tomography （Micro-CT） applied in dental research. It summarizes Micro-CT applications in mea- surement of enamel thickness, root canal morphology, evaluation of root canal preparation, craniofacial skeletalstructure, micro finite element modeling, dental tissue engineering, mineral density of dental hard tissues and about dental implants. Details of studies in each of these areas are highlighted along with the advantages of Micro-CT, and finally a summary of the future applications of Micro-CT in dental research is given.

Quantification of the stiffness and strength of cadherin ectodomain binding with different ions

The stiffness and strength of extracellular （EC） region of cadherin are proposed to be two important mechanical properties both for cadherin as a mechanotransductor and for the formation of cell-cell adhesion. In this study, we quantitatively characterized the stiffness and strength of EC structure when it binds with different types of ions by molecular dynamics simulations. Resuits show that EC structure exhibits a rod-like shape with high stiffness and strength when it binds with the bivalent ions of calcium or magnesium. However, it switches to a soft and collapsed conformation when it binds with the monova- lent ions of sodium or potassium. This study sheds light on the important role of the bivalent ions of calcium in the physiological function of EC.

Pulling out a peptide chain from β-sheet crystallite: Propagation of instability of H-bonds under shear force

Anti-parallel β-sheet crystallite as the main component of silk fibroin has attracted much attention due to its superior mechanical properties. In this study, we examine the processes of pulling a peptide chain from β-sheet crystallite using steered molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the rupture behavior of the crystallite. We show that the failure of β-sheet crystallite was accompanied by a propagation of instability of hydrogen-bonds （H-bonds） in the crystallite. In addition, we find that there is an optimum size of the crystallite at which the H-bonds can work cooperatively to achieve the highest shear strength. In addition, we find that the stiffness of loading device and the loading rates have significant effects on the rupture behavior of β-sheet crystallite. The stiff loading device facilitates the rebinding of the Hbond network in the stick-slip motion between the chains, while the soft one suppresses it. Moreover, the rupture force of β-sheet crystallites decreases with loading rate. Particularly, when the loading rate decreases to a critical value, the rupture force of the β-sheet crystallite becomes independent of the loading rates. This study provides atomistic details of rupture behaviors of β-sheet crystallite, and, therefore, sheds valuable light on the underlying mechanism of the superior mechanical properties of silk fibroin.

Repair of Rat Segmental Defects with Mineralized Collagen Grafts Combined with or without Mesenchymal Stem Cells and BMP-2

The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the bone formation capacity with three different grafts. Four millimeter segmental defects were created in adult rat tibias and were either left empty （control defects） or implanted with （1） nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen/PIA （nHAC/PIA） composite, （2） nHAC/ PIA composite added with bone marrow mesenchymal tem cells （ BMSCs ）, （ 3 ） nHAC/ PIA composite added with bone morphogenetic protein 2 （ BMP- 2）. Radiographs of the defects were taken weekly post-surgery. After 1 or 2 months, the rats were eathaaized. Histologic analyses were performed on the harvested tissue. nHAC/ PIA composite could enhance the repair of rat tibia segmental defects. Addition of BMSCs or BMP- 2 to nHAC/ PIA led to an increase in osteogenesis, nHAC/ PIA composite could be an Meal alternative bone-grafi material and it could also be used as an Meal carrier of BMSCs or BMP- 2.

Probing the mechanosensitivity in cell adhesion and migration: Experiments and modeling

Cell adhesion and migration are basic physiolog- ical processes in living organisms. Cells can actively probe their mechanical micro-environment and respond to the ex- ternal stimuli through cell adhesion. Cells need to move to the targeting place to perform function via cell migration. For adherent cells, cell migration is mediated by cell-matrix adhesion and cell-cell adhesion. Experimental approaches, especially at early stage of investigation, are indispensable to studies of cell mechanics when even qualitative behaviors of cell as well as fundamental factors in cell behaviors are unclear. Currently, there is increasingly accumulation of ex- perimental data of measurement, thus a quantitative formula- tion of cell behaviors and the relationship among these fun- damental factors are highly needed. This quantitative under- standing should be crucial to tissue engineering and biomed- ical engineering when people want to accurately regulate or control cell behaviors from single cell level to tissue level. In this review, we will elaborate recent advances in the ex- perimental and theoretical studies on cell adhesion and mi- gration, with particular focuses laid on recent advances in experimental techniques and theoretical modeling, through which challenging problems in the cell mechanics are sug- gested.

Mechanics of water pore formation in lipid membrane under electric field

Transmembrane water pores are crucial for substance transport through cell membranes via membrane fusion, such as in neural communication. However, the molecular mechanism of water pore formation is not clear. In this study, we apply all-atom molecular dynamics and bias-exchange metadynamics simulations to study the process of water pore formation under an electric field. We show that water molecules can enter a membrane under an electric field and form a water pore of a few nanometers in diameter. These water molecules disturb the interactions between lipid head groups and the ordered arrangement of lipids. Following the movement of water molecules, the lipid head groups are rotated and driven into the hydrophobic region of the membrane. The reorientated lipid head groups inside the membrane form a hydrophilic surface of the water pore. This study reveals the atomic details of how an electric field influences the movement of water molecules and lipid head groups, resulting in water pore formation.

Local buckling analysis of biological nanocomposites based on a beam-spring model

Biological materials such as bone, tooth, and nacre are load-bearing nanocomposites composed of mineral and protein. Since the mineral crystals often have slender geometry, the nanocomposites are susceptible to buckle under the compressive load. In this paper, we analyze the local buckling behaviors of the nanocomposite structure of the biological materials using a beam-spring model by which we can consider plenty of mineral crystals and their interaction in our analysis compared with existing studies. We show that there is a transition of the buckling behaviors from a local buckling mode to a global one when we continuously increase the aspect ratio of mineral, leading to an increase of the buckling strength which levels off to the strength of the composites reinforced with continuous crystals. We find that the contact condition at the mineral tips has a striking effect on the local buckling mode at small aspect ratio, but the effect diminishes when the aspect ratio is large. Our analyses also show that the staggered arrangement of mineral plays a central role in the stability of the biological nanocomposites.

Mineralization of Hydroxyapatite Regulated by Recombinant Human-like Collagen

We reported recombinant human-like type I collagen inducing growth of hydroxyapatite crystals in vitro in the form of self-assembly of nano-fibrils of mineralized collagen resembling extracellular matrix, which obey the same rules, but is superior to the collagen derived from animal tissues because the latter may carry diseases of animals and cause immunological reactions. The mineralized collagen fibrils aligned parallel to each other to form mineralized collagen fibers. Hydroxyapatite nanocrystals grew on the surface of these collagen fibrils with the c-axis of nanocrystals of HA orienting along the longitudinal axis of the fibrils.

Interactions of human islet amyloid polypeptide with lipid structure of different curvatures

Curvature is one of the most important features of lipid membranes in living cells,which significantly influences the structure of lipid membranes and their interaction with proteins.Taken the human islet amyloid polypeptide(h IAPP),an important protein related to the pathogenesis of type II diabetes,as an example,we performed molecular dynamics(MD)simulations to study the interaction between the protein and the lipid structures with varied curvatures.We found that the lipids in the high curvature membrane pack loosely with high mobility.The h IAPP initially forms H-bonds with the membrane surface that anchored the protein,and then inserts into the membrane through the hydrophobic interactions between the residues and the hydrophobic tails of the lipids.h IAPP can insert into the membrane more deeply with a larger curvature and with a stronger binding strength.Our result provided important insights into the mechanism of the membrane curvature-dependent property of proteins with molecular details.

Wetting Behavior between Droplets and Dust

The wetting behavior of dust by droplets is investigated by experiments and numerical simulation methods.Experimental observation reveals that the surface of a coal slice is hydrophilic in nature,while surfaces of coal dust stacks are hydrophobic.We show that water droplets settle on these surfaces following the Cassie-Baxter wetting model,as supported by theoretical,numerical analyses and experimental observations,i.e.water droplets only wet the first layer of coal dust.Our numerical simulation results also show that a water droplet could not enclose any coal dust inside it and many coal dust particles are adhered with a hexagonal close packing on a large water droplet.Based on these results,we conclude that the surface area of water droplets is an important factor on their wetting and capturing coal dust,and producing smaller water droplets can improve the efficiency of settling dust.

Water Evaporation Triggered Self-Assembly of MXene on Non-Carbonized Wood with Well-Aligned Channels as Size-Customizable Free-Standing Electrode for Supercapacitors

Herein,non-carbonized wood-based electrodes and separators with well-aligned channels and excellent mechanical properties are developed for supercapacitors.To enhance the conductivity and boost the capacitance,Ti_(3)C_(2)(MXene)nanosheets with high electrical conductivity and excellent electrochemical activity are loaded into the wood cells via self-assembly triggered by fast evaporating water in Ti_(3)C_(2)suspension.By the assistance of positive charged polydopamine microspheres with large surface area,the self-restacking of Ti_(3)C_(2)nanosheets can be avoided and the high mass loading(50 wt%)can be achieved due to the extra driving force for Ti_(3)C_(2)absorption.Benefiting from the conductive Ti_(3)C_(2)nanosheets with massive active sites and the multiple well-aligned channels in wood with efficient transportation pathways for charge carriers,the as-designed free-standing electrode shows a large areal capacitance of 1060 mF cm^(-2)at 0.5 mA cm^(-2)and high capacitance retention of 67%at 10 mA cm^(-2).Also,this electrode is highly size-customizable,showing a good ability to be industrially processed into various shapes and dimensions.Furthermore,an all-wood based supercapacitor with Ti_(3)C_(2)/wood composites as two layers of electrodes and a wood slice as the separator is fabricated,presenting a high energy density of 10.5μW h cm^(-2)at 389.9μW cm^(-2).

ANALYSIS OF NICKEL CONTENT AFTER IMPLANTING NITINOL IN DOGS

The content of nickel of nitinol alloy isabout 50%, it is higher than that of 316 L stainless steel for surgical implantation, and lower than that of nickel based alloy for prosthetic dentistry. Nitinol alloy is implanted to the dog’s body, the effect of nickel in nitinol to the animal’s body is explored by the analyzing the trace element of nickel in the dog’s hair before and after implantation. Experimental results show that after 2 years implantation of nitinol alloy, the nickel content in the hair is not markedly increased. By measuring the weight, height and length of the animal periodically, and contrasting with normal data, no impairment of growth of the animal is observed. The ability of the animal to distinguish men and objects is also normal. The weighing test of the alloy sample taken out after 2 years implantation, shows that its anti-corrosion effect belongs to the very strong grade. It shows that during the long period of nitinol implantation into the animal’s body, there is no evidence that the free nickel or nickel compound present in tissue is harmful to the animal.

Synthetic Three-Dimensional Scaffold for Application in the Regeneration of Bone Tissue

Bone tissue engineering aims to use biodegrade able scaffolds to replace damaged tissue. This scaffold must be gradually degraded and replaced by tissue as similar as possible to the original one. In this work a hybrid porous scaffold containing chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol and bioactive glass was successfully obtained and subsequently characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The scaffold presented satisfactory pore size range and open interconnected pores, which are essential for tissue ingrowth. A cytotoxicity assay showed that this biomaterial allows adequate cell viability, so that it was considered suitable for an in vivo experiment. Promising results were obtained with the implant of the scaffold in an experimental model of a New Zealand rabbit femur bone lesion. Clinical and biochemical parameters measured such as complete blood count, total serum proteins, albumin, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were similar between animals in the control group at all time periods studied. Histological and histometric studies showed that the scaffold was coated with a cement-like substance, exhibiting many areas of mineralized structures. Very few osteocyte-like cells or lining-like cells were found inside the amorphous mineralized deposit. In vivo results allow us to consider this scaffold as a promising biomaterial to be applied in bone tissue engineering.

Score Evaluation of MRI Sequence Type Related Artifacts after Interbody Fusion with Metallic Implants—A Spine Specimen Study

Introduction: According to anterior spine fusion intervertebral disc spacers made of titanium or cobalt-chromium al-loys are of special interest. With regard to postoperative problems implant related artifacts can lead to a decreased MRI evaluation. The focus of this study was to compare the respective implant artifact artifact range dependend on different MRI sequences. To simplify artifact evaluation we introduced in this study a new developed 0-1-2 score. Material and Methods: We performed an MRI artifact evaluation of 2 different metallic intervertebral disc spacers (cobalt-chromium and titanium alloy). A carcass porcine spine was employed. Considering 12 defined spinal regions of interest we evaluated the respective implant artifact properties independent from the total artifact volume by using a new developed 0-1-2 score. The artifact range was documented for 15 different MRI-sequences. Results: For the titanium spacer as well as the cobalt-chromium-spacer an MRI evaluation of the implant/disc space situation could not be carried out. In contrast to the cobalt chromium spacer the titanium spacer allowed a good differentiation of the spinal canal opposite to the implant. Optimal MRI imaging results for both metallic intervertebral disc spacers could be achieved considering TSE sequences. Conclusion: A comparison of these two metallic spacers showed in all examined sequences clear advantages in favour of the titanium spacer. The best MRI representation of both tested implants by reducing implant related artifacts could be achieved with fast spin echo (TSE-) sequences. In spite of the use of TSE sequences a variability of susceptibility artifacts has to be included with regard to implant shape and material. With regard to the results of this study the easy use of a new developed artifact score represented a useful help to compare implant related MRI artifact properties independent from the actual implant related total artifact volume.

Editorial:Mechanics of biological and bio-inspired materials

The field of mechanics of biological and bio-inspired materials underwent an exciting development over the past several years, which made it stand at the cutting edge of both engineering mechanics and biomechanics. As an intriguing interdisciplinary research field, it aims at elucidating the fundamental principles in nature＇s design of strong, multi-functional and smart Materials by focusing on the assembly, deformation, stability and failure of the materials.

Emerging WS_(2)/WSe_(2)@graphene nanocomposites: synthesis and electrochemical energy storage applications

In recent years, tungsten disulfide(WS_(2)) and tungsten selenide(WSe_(2)) have emerged as favorable electrode materials because of their high theoretical capacity, large interlayer spacing, and high chemical activity;nevertheless, they have relatively low electronic conductivity and undergo large volume expansion during cycling, which greatly hinder them in practical applications. These drawbacks are addressed by combining a superior type of carbon material, graphene, with WS_(2) and WSe_(2) to form a WS_(2)/WSe_(2)@graphene nanocomposites.These materials have received considerable attention in electro-chemical energy storage applications such as lithium-ion batteries(LIBs), sodium-ion batteries(SIBs),and supercapacitors. Considering the rapidly growing research enthusiasm on this topic over the past several years, here the recent progress of WS_(2)/WSe_(2)@graphene nanocomposites in electrochemical energy storage applications is summarized. Furthermore, various methods for the synthesis of WS_(2)/WSe_(2)@graphene nanocomposites are reported and the relationships among these methods, nano/microstructures, and electrochemical performance are systematically summarized and discussed. In addition, the challenges and prospects for the future study and application of WS_(2)/WSe_(2)@graphene nanocomposites in electrochemical energy storage applications are proposed.

Creating a bionic scaffold via light-curing liquid crystal ink to reveal the role of osteoid-like microenvironment in osteogenesis

Osteoid plays a crucial role in directing cell behavior and osteogenesis through its unique characteristics,including viscoelasticity and liquid crystal(LC)state.Thus,integrating osteoid-like features into 3D printing scaffolds proves to be a promising approach for personalized bone repair.Despite extensive research on viscoelasticity,the role of LC state in bone repair has been largely overlooked due to the scarcity of suitable LC materials.Moreover,the intricate interplay between LC state and viscoelasticity in osteogenesis remains poorly understood.Here,we developed innovative hydrogel scaffolds with osteoid-like LC state and viscoelasticity using digital light processing with a custom LC ink.By utilizing these LC scaffolds as 3D research models,we discovered that LC state mediates high protein clustering to expose accessible RGD motifs to trigger cell-protein interactions and osteogenic differentiation,while viscoelasticity operates via mechanotransduction pathways.Additionally,our investigation revealed a synergistic effect between LC state and viscoelasticity,amplifying cellprotein interactions and osteogenic mechanotransduction processes.Furthermore,the interesting mechanochromic response observed in the LC hydrogel scaffolds suggests their potential application in mechanosensing.Our findings shed light on the mechanisms and synergistic effects of LC state and viscoelasticity in osteoid on osteogenesis,offering valuable insights for the biomimetic design of bone repair scaffolds.

Effect of triple-phase contact line on contact angle hysteresis

Recent studies have shown that the triple-phase contact line has critical effect on the contact angle hysteresis of surfaces.In this study,patterned surfaces with various surface structures of different area fractions were prepared by electron etching on a silicon wafer.The advancing angle,receding angle and hysteresis angle of these surfaces were measured.Our experimental results showed that while the geometry of microstructure and contact line have a minor effect on the advancing angle,they have a significant effect on the receding angle and thus the hysteresis angle.We have shown that the effect of microstructure and the contact line can be described by a quantitative parameter termed the triple-phase line ratio.The theoretical predictions were in good agreement with our experimental results.

Analysis of the shape of heavy droplets on flat and spherical surface

In this study,a theoretical model was established for predicting the equilibrium shape of the droplet on flat and spherical surfaces.The theoretical equilibrium shape of heavy droplets could be obtained once contact angle and volume of droplets were given.It showed that the predictions of the theoretical flat model were in good agreement with the shape obtained by Surface Evolver when the contact angle is below 120 and the droplet size is on the order of capillary length.This available range will decrease and increase when the heavy droplet is on convex and concave spherical surface,respectively,in contrast to that on flat surface.The available range will decrease more for higher curvature of convex spherical surfaces.

MicroRNA-21a-5p-modified macrophage exosomes as natural nanocarriers promote bone regeneration by targeting GATA2

Bone immune responses based on macrophages are critical in the osteogenesis of bone abnormalities.In general,M2 macrophage facilitate the promotion of osteogenesis,as well,M1 macrophage play an important role in early bone healing,as confirmed by previous studies.However,it is not clear how M1 macrophage are involved in the bone immune response.MiR-21a-5p is a highly expressed microRNA in M1 macrophage in contrast to M2.Therefore,the current work sought to ascertain the influence of M1 macrophage on bone healing via exosomal miR-21a-5p and the probable mechanism.We discovered that injecting M1 macrophage exosomes overexpressing miR-21a-5p into bone defect locations enhanced bone regeneration in vivo.Furthermore,by directly targeting GATA2,miR-21a-5p accelerated MC3T3-E1 osteogenic differentiation.Our findings showed that exosomal miR-21a-5p from M1 macrophage may be transported to osteoblasts and target GATA2 to enhance bone defect healing.