Silicate-based bioceramics for periodontal regeneration

Periodontal disease is characterized by the destruction of the tissues that attach the tooth to the alveolar bone. Various methods for regenerative periodontal therapy including the use of barrier membranes, bone replacement grafts, and growth factor delivery have been investigated; however, true regeneration of periodontal tissue is still a significant challenge to scientists and clinicians. The focus on periodontal tissue engineering has shifted from attempting to recreate tissue replacements/constructs to the development of biomaterials that incorporate and release regulatory signals to achieve in situ periodontal regeneration. The release of ions and molecular cues from biomaterials may help to unlock latent regenerative potential in the body by regulating cell proliferation and differentiation towards different lineages (e.g. osteoblasts and cementoblasts). Silicate-based bioactive materials, including bioactive silicate glasses and ceramics, have become the materials of choice for periodontal regeneration, due to their favourable osteoconductivity and bioactivity. This article will focus on the most recent advances in the in vitro and in vivo biological application of silicate-based ceramics, specifically as it relates to periodontal tissue engineering.

Intelligent Processing Of Zno-Based Ceramics

The Intelligent Decision Support System (IDSS), also called an expert system, is explained. It was then applied to choose the right composition and firing temperature of a ZnO based varistor. 17 refs.

Optical properties of transparent alkali gallium silicate glass-ceramics containing Ni2+-doped beta-Ga2O3 nanocrystals

Broadband near-infrared (IR) luminescence in transparent alkali gallium silicate glass-ceramics containing N2+-doped beta-Ga2O3 nanocrystals was observed. This broadband emission could be attributed to the T-3(2g) (F-3) -> (3)A(2g) (F-3) transition of octahedral Ni2+ ions in glass-ceramics. The full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the near-IR luminescence and fluorescent lifetime of the glass-ceramic doped with 0.10 mol% NiO were 260 nm and similar to 1220 mu s, respectively. It is expected that transparent Ni2+-doped beta-Ga2O3 glass-ceramics with this broad near-IR emission and long fluorescent lifetime have potential applications as super-broadband optical amplification media.

Broadband near-infrared emission from transparent Ni2+-doped silicate glass ceramics

Transparent Ni2+-doped MgO-Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 glass ceramics were prepared, and the optical properties of Ni2+-doped glass ceramics were investigated. Broadband emission centered at 1320 nm was observed by 980 nm excitation. The longer wavelength luminescence compared with Ni2+-doped Li2O-Ga2O3-SiO2 glass ceramics is ascribed to the low crystal field hold by Ni2+ in MgO-Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 glass ceramics. The change in optical signals at the telecommunication bands with or without 980 nm excitation was also measured when the seed beam passes through the bulk gain host.(C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Transparent Ni2+-doped lithium-alumino-silicate glass-ceramics for broadband near-infrared light source

Broadband infrared luminescence centred at around 1300 nm with full-width at half maximum of about 342 nm was observed from transparent Ni2+-doped lithium-alumino-silicate glass-ceramics embedded with beta-eucryptite crystallines. The room temperature fluorescent lifetime was 98 mu s. The transparent glass-ceramics may have potential applications in a widely tunable laser and a super-broadband optical amplifier for optical communications.

Energy transfer between Cr3+ and Ni2+ in transparent silicate glass ceramics containing Cr3+/Ni2+ co-doped ZnAl2O4 nanocrystals

The emission intensity of Ni2+ at 1200 nm in transparent ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 glass ceramics containing ZnAl2O4 nanocrystals is improved approximately 8 times by Cr3+ codoping with 532 nm excitation. This enhanced emission could be attributed to an efficient energy transfer from Cr3+ to Ni2+, which is confirmed by time-resolved emission spectra. The energy transfer efficiency is estimated to be 57% and the energy transfer mechanism is also discussed. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.

Enhanced broadband near-infrared luminescence from transparent Yb 3+/Ni2+ codoped silicate glass ceramics

The near-infrared emission intensity of Ni2+ in Yb3+/Ni2+ codoped transparent MgO-Al2O3-Ga2O3-SiO2-TiO2 glass ceramics could be enhanced up to 4.4 times via energy transfer from Yb3+ to Ni2+ in nanocrystals. The best Yb2O3 concentration was about 1.00 mol%. For the Yb3+/Ni2+ codoped glass ceramic with 1.00 mol% Yb2O3, a broadband near-infrared emission centered at 1265 nm with full width at half maximum of about 300 nm and lifetime of about 220 mu s was observed. The energy transfer mechanism was also discussed. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.

Enhanced broadband near-infrared luminescence in transparent silicate glass ceramics containing Yb3+ ions and Ni2+-doped Li Ga5 O8 nanocrystals

Spectral properties of Yb3+/Ni2+ codoped transparent silicate glass ceramics containing LiGa5O8 nanocrystals were investigated. The near-infrared emission intensity of Ni2+ was largely increased with Yb3+ codoping due to Yb3+-> Ni2+ energy transfer. The qualitative calculation of the energy transfer constant Cs-a and rate Ps-a showed that the Yb3+-> Ni2+ energy transfer was much greater than in the opposite direction. Yb3+/Ni2+ codoped glass ceramics with 0.75 mol % Yb2O3 exhibited a near-infrared emission with full width at half maximum of 290 nm and fluorescent lifetime of 920 mu s. The glass ceramics are promising for broadband optical amplification.

Transparent Ni2+-doped silicate glass ceramics for broadband near-infrared emission

Transparent Ni2+-doped MgO-Al2O3-Ga2O3-SiO2-TiO2 glass ceramics were fabricated. The precipitated nanocrystal phase in the glass ceramics was identified by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. Broadband near-infrared emission centered at 1220 nm with full width at half maximum of about 240 nm and lifetime of about 250 mu s was observed with 980 nm excitation. The longer wavelength emission compared with Ni2+-doped MgAl2O4 crystal was attributed to the low crystal field occupied by Ni2+ in the glass ceramics. The present Ni2+-doped transparent glass ceramics may have potential applications in broadband optical amplifiers. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.